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Posts Tagged ‘hormones’

A Hormone Imbalance: The Source Of Multiple Health Problems

February 8th, 2010

A hormone imbalance is most common among women because of the way their body is designed to work. In the first part of a woman’s monthly cycle the body produces estrogen, in the middle ovulation results and after ovulation the body produces progesterone in preparation to receive the egg in the event that a pregnancy occurs.

If the woman does not become pregnant, the body stops producing both hormones and she has her period. This process keeps the hormones in balance on a month by month basis. If a woman does not ovulate during the month, then the estrogen is not balanced by the progesterone, because progesterone is only produced when ovulation occurs, and an imbalance occurs.

As a woman ages, the same thing happens. Less progesterone is produced in the body, while more estrogen builds up. Some girls start this problem with their first period, or a woman may start it after she has her first baby. Age and having a tubal ligation can, also, cause the hormones to become unbalanced. Once this starts it has a domino on the woman’s health.

Too much estrogen in the body affects the brain, actually causing it to start swelling. The most common problems a woman experiences is swelling in the hands, breast tenderness, mood swings and headaches. Too much estrogen can affect the way the thyroid functions which in turn causes stress on the adrenal glands, resulting in adrenal fatigue. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, inability to think clearly, weight gain, depression, sleep problems and a host of other problems.

Anytime there is an imbalance of hormones, the entire immune system is affected. This causes the woman’s fitness level to decrease. She no longer feels like exercising or worrying about her health. She just tries to survive each day. Sometimes it gets so bad she can hardly function.

This is not normally a problem that most women consult their doctors over. They have a tendency to think it is just how women are, and they do not think there is a problem. If they see it as a problem at all, they feel it is caused from them working to meet the needs of their husband, children and home while working a full-time job.

When progesterone decreases and estrogen increases, the best way to balance them again is for the woman to use natural progesterone. If not, the symptoms she is experiencing will keep lowering her level of fitness. Once the two hormones begin to equal out, the woman will begin to feel considerably better. She will regain her strength and energy, and she will start feeling completely different.

A woman should not expect to feel different soon after she starts using the recommended dose of the natural progesterone cream. It is not something that fixes itself overnight. It will most likely take close to four months before the two main hormones are balanced. When they are, her fitness level will rise and she will begin to feel considerably better. She will have a better outlook on life, her depression will go away and she will be able to think clearly.

Whenever a woman starts having these symptoms she should go for a doctor visit. If for some reason she does not want to do that, she can begin using a natural progesterone cream. If she doesn’t begin to see a change in how she feels after a few months, she should definitely see her doctor, because the problem may be caused by something more serious.

Excessive estrogen in the body affects the brain, causing it to swell. The most common issues a female faces are breast tenderness, swings in mood and even weight gain. We have got the inside skinny on how to lose weight with fat burning foods

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4 Fat Cell Facts Uncovered by George Washington University Weight Loss Expert

November 8th, 2009

Have you been trying to get rid of all that extra weight for quite some time now? Are you confused as to why you just can’t seem to get rid of it? A George Washington University weight loss expert discloses four facts related to fat cells that may help you get back into shape and stay that way.

Fact Number One: “Pre-fat cells” desperately want to become fat cells, and you’re probably helping them do just that

Our body manufactures millions of pre-fat cells that try to become full fledged fat cells also known as adipocytes. Even though you do not wish to convert them, without your knowledge, you help them get converted. How can you put an end to this?

Our George Washington University weight loss expert reveals this: The thing is, pre-fat cells don’t store fat; full-fledged fat cells do. So when you help a pre-fat cell become a full fat cell, you do it by encouraging two hormones to produce themselves to excess in your body.

The two hormones we are talking about are insulin and cortisol. We tend to stimulate over production of these with our lifestyles and eating habits.

Lack of proper sleep and too much of stress are the main reasons. Both these reasons lead to excess production of the hormone cortisol. This will sound familiar to you only because it is. You do not get proper sleep and are stressing yourself too much leading to fat cell growth.

The second hormone, insulin, is also overproduced because you get too little sleep and have too much stress — AND it’s also overproduced when you make poor food choices that are high in simple carbohydrates; simple carbohydrates cause insulin spikes, which in turn can cause weight gain, especially (you guessed it) fat storage. (By the way, lack of exercise, too, can keep your insulin levels higher than optimal.)

Fact Number Two: Once you’ve got those fat cells, you keep them

You have got no one to blame but yourself. Your eating habits have resulted in acquiring these fat cells, and once you have them, they tend to stay with you for a life time. You have welcomed these unwanted friends because of lack of proper personal care. Since you never had sufficient sleep, right food, proper exercise and underwent severe stress, it has resulted in development of fat cells.

What can you do to change this?

Fact Number Three: Proper sleep can help you shun excess body weight

If you spend at least seven to nine hours a night asleep (REALLY asleep, no TV going, in other words) you’re going to lower your levels of cortisol and raise your levels of beneficial, fat-hating hormones like testosterone, leptin, and growth hormone. With enough leptin, for example, you’re less hungry (which will help you make better food choices) and your metabolism is higher (which will help you burn fat). Growth hormone and testosterone (yup, even for women in smaller amounts than for men) encourage muscle growth and fat burning.

By the way, this does not have anything to do with artificially supplementing any of these hormones. Just getting enough sleep is going to be enough to do the job.

Fact Number Four: Sleep also lowers your levels of cortisol and insulin, which discourages fat storage

Our weight loss expert at George Washington University explains that fat cells once acquired never go away. But this does not mean that they store fat automatically without your involvement. Small amounts of fat are required for proper functioning of the body but to keep excess levels of fat off, reducing insulin levels will help by increasing levels of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). HSL results in keeping fat out of the fat cells. While increased levels of insulin can raise the production of lipoprotein lipase. This lipoprotein lipase or LPL allows fat to come in and settle down. This is really not what any of us want.

The solution to this problem is quite simple. Proper sleep and a stress free environment accompanied by healthy diet and proper exercise can help shed excess fat from your body.

Josef Brandenburg is a prize winning Georgetown University area weight loss expert. His clients depend on him to help them get the bodies they have always wanted in their spare time and without starving themselves or eating nasty food. Click here to find out more about his 7-Day Free Trial.

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