9 Hormones That Cause Weight Gain And Ways to Avoid It

There are other factors that can cause sudden weight gain besides overeating and no physical activity. Hormonal misbalances can also cause severe weight gain to the point of you going obese if it is not checked in time. Hormonal problems in turn are triggered by poor lifestyle, poor diet, stress, post-pregnancy, age, and genetics. Here are 9 types of hormonal imbalances that are most likely to occur in the body and how you can keep them in check.

1 Thyroid hormones

Located at the base of the neck, the thyroid gland produces hormones called T3 T4 and calcitonin all three of which help in regulating the metabolism of the body. Hypothyroidism is a condition where there is a lack of these hormones that creates the condition for weight gain and even possible obesity. The weight gain is more often due to water retention instead of fat that makes your body look swollen and plumpy.

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How to prevent it

Getting your regular table salt (iodized salt) intake is one way to maintain a healthy thyroid but don’t overdo the sodium intake and start consuming unhealthy snacks full of sodium. Avoid raw veggies and make sure your food is well cooked. Make sure you get enough sunshine for your daily dose of vitamin D or take a supplement. Eat more foods rich in zinc such as pumpkin seeds, oysters, garlic and chickpeas.

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2Insulin

Insulin is a very important hormone in our body which if thrown off course can cause conditions of high blood sugar, prediabetes or even diabetes. As you know it is the pancreas that secrets insulin where the hormone is like a key opening up the cells to absorb sugar or glucose from the blood to be used as fuel or stored as fat. Insulin regulates your blood sugar but when you start eating too much of sugary foods, processed foods and unhealthy carbs, the overabundance of sugar in your body may lead to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin.

Insulin resistance makes the cell of your muscles avoid insulin’s impact on them or simply ignoring insulin after which the sugar remains in the blood-stream causing high blood sugar which will again lead to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

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How to prevent it

Introduce more leafy greens into your diet like spinach and kale. Eat seasonal fruits and veggies more often. Healthy fibers like multigrain muesli and oats fight cholesterol, reduce blood sugar and reduce the amount of insulin diabetics need. Drink plenty of water and exercise at least 4 times a work where some part of your workout should be intense. (Although always consult a doctor before any intense workout activity if you are middle age and facing heart problems). Increase omega 3 fatty acids in your diet from fatty salmon, nuts, olive oil, flax seeds, avocados and supplements. Stop drinking alcohol, carbonated drinks and sugary fruit juices. Late night snacking, unhealthy sugary carbs like cakes and pastries are out too.

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3Cortisol

Cortisol is considered the stress hormone that is secreted by the adrenal glands when a person is anxious, stressed out, depressed, angry, nervous or injured. It is actually responsible for reducing levels of stress by increasing the level of blood sugar so you have got a contradictory situation here which is why stress can lead to high blood sugar. Cortisol in fact, suppresses the immune system and promotes metabolism of the here major nutrition requirements of fats carbs and protein. The problem is that unhealthy or stressful lifestyles can induce a condition of constant stress in a person creating the constant production of cortisol that could be unhealthy for us because of increasing visceral (abdominal) fat and stimulation of fat cells maturity.

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How to prevent it

The first thing you need is a good night sleep and nothing less than 7-8 hours should do. Stop all processed fast food, deep fried food, smoking and drinking. Try to get in at least 5 hours of exercise where you should also incorporate yoga, deep breathing or meditation into your lifestyle every day. Try to relax or unwind with family, partners or friends.

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