Did you know that there are 16 hormones affecting your ability to lose weight and only one hormone imbalance will sabotage your efforts?
Often people underestimate poor quality nutrition and the energy expelled during fitness and daily activities. Failure to pay attention to our food choices leads us to hormonal imbalance. What, when and how we eat are important for good health and fat loss.
Dr. Natasha Turner, author and nutrition expert, explains that every day we reach for inflammatory foods, fast foods containing high-fructose corn syrup and added sweeteners, hormone-infused foods and fat-free, sugar free foods – all major culprits that perpetuate hormonal imbalance.
In the end we are left feeling fuzzy, flabby and fatigued.
The biggest risk to our culture may be the misleading low-carb claims and influx of products that ladle on heapings of calories in exchange for carbs.
Enough people are seduced by these foods that we now have an obesity epidemic in North America. These foods are loaded with refined sugars and grains, trans fats, processed meats that are high in nitrates and sulfates that are associated with increased inflammation, excess saturated fats, too much Omega 6 fatty acid, all causing inflammation and is a leading cause of hormonal imbalance.
Food choices that reduce inflammation and balance your hormones will work on repairing vital organs, joints and glands, particularly the adrenal gland function which is
another consequence of chronic stress to the body.
Everything in a hormonally-balanced, macronutrient-balanced and calorically-balanced diet work to control cortisol and calm the nervous system, replenish DHEA the anti-aging hormone, reduce insulin, provide better craving control and increased abdominal fat loss and increase GABA, dopamine and serotonin for relaxation and ‘feel good’ hormones, topped up testosterone and protection from the harmful effects of excess estrogen through balanced progesterone.
Other benefits include more melatonin and growth hormone to work metabolic magic for nighttime repair and fat burning and maximized effects of thyroid hormone. The thyroid is the metabolic master for better appetite control via increased leptin and suppressed appetite-stimulating hormone.
When macronutrient, micronutrient, and hormonally-balanced meals are chosen and consumed you will experience improved digestion, less pain and inflammation, restorative sleep, safe fat loss and increased muscle mass, improved strength and stability, glowing skin and healthier hair, better appetite control, increased energy and stress recuperation, stronger libido and sexual enjoyment, increased fertility, metabolic revival, better mood, memory and concentration, protection from many of the diseases of aging, slowed aging and illness prevention through maximized immunity and antioxidants.
So when you are focused on ‘dieting and weight loss’ or are experiencing frustration
losing those last 10 pounds, it is encouraging to know that not all ‘diets’ are created equally.
Katherine Christie is the owner of the U Weight Loss Clinic in Red Deer. For more information, call 403-340-0612 or visit www.uweightloss.com.
