 Make the Obstacle in your Diet an Opportunity | 
|
Low Carb
| BELLY FAT? Blame Cortisol, Sugary Carbohydrates, Hormone imbalances and Sugar, just to name a few! Here's some great ideas of what you can do about it, if you choose because it's your choice!   Today you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't stressed out. It's the nature of the crazy, rushed, chaotic world we live in. It seems like the daily to-do list never ends, right? Well, that stress affects your body. Adrenaline and Cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormones put out by your adrenal glands, were originally designed to give you the extra oomph you needed to evade death by saber-toothed tiger; in modern life, the stress caused by outrunning big, toothy animals has been replaced with the constant daily hassles you face - like sitting in traffic! However, whether it's a tiger or traffic, your body still responds with a fight-or-flight response, which spikes your hormones and keeps them spiked. Our modern, deadline-a-day lifestyle overtaxes our adrenal glands, which ends up overproducing Cortisol. Perhaps you've heard me describe your hormones as a teeter-totter: When Cortisol is constantly pumped out, it can blunt estrogen and progesterone production and bring on those menopause symptoms. Raised Cortisol has huge effects on our overall health - Cortisol will rev you up and make it nearly impossible to sleep, and it can put you at risk for a heart attack. An overabundance of Cortisol also boosts your insulin levels, which can cause you to pack on the pounds, especially around the midsection. If you have insomnia and weight gain (particularly belly fat), odds are Cortisol may be to blame. Here are some potential fixes for your problem. " Find out about your Cortisol levels. A simple blood test is all you need to see if your levels are within normal ranges. " Load up on DHEA. This supplement helps transform Cortisol back to cortisone, helping to reduce the amount of Cortisol in your system. But hold on! Before you go rushing to your nearest health-food store to grab a DHEA supplement, you need to consult a doctor and get a comprehensive blood test done to check your hormone levels, so you can be sure to take the proper dose. Once your hormones are balanced and your body is supplemented with youthful levels of DHEA, losing weight will be much easier than you anticipated. " Balance your sex hormones. Back to the teeter-totter - perhaps an age-related decline of estrogen and progesterone are responsible for your heightened Cortisol. If your blood tests show that either of these hormones is low, consider supplementing those hormones to bring your Cortisol into balance. " Book yourself plenty of R&R. Start going to bed at a set time every night. Your body needs eight hours of sleep to fully regenerate; by getting the right amount of sleep, your Cortisol levels will start to drop. Also, sleep in total darkness! Research has shown that even a little bit of light is enough to cause an increase in your stress hormones. Additionally, try to lower your Cortisol levels organically by reducing the stress levels in your life through relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and exercise. I know, I know. In today's cut-throat world, it's really tough to just chill out. But high Cortisol levels, as you've seen, are a vicious cycle: high stress = high Cortisol = less sleep = higher stress = higher Cortisol = no sleep.… Get the picture? Not to mention, it's not just your mental well-being that's suffering - high Cortisol ultimately leads to weight gain. Take the steps necessary to address your stress now! You'll look and feel way better for it.  FEMALE Nature's Sunshine, DHEA-F Natural Supplements Click here to purchase, DHEA- F Retail Cost $35.95 or Member Price $23.95  Please visit this page, its full of valuable information Nature's Sunshine- Focus on Women's Health/Different Stages, Different Needs  MALE Nature's Sunshine, DHEA-M Natural Supplements Click here to purchase, DHEA- M Retail Cost $32.25 or Member Price $23.95  Just Do It!!!! Please visit this page, it's full of valuable information Nature's Sunshine- Spotlight on Men's Unique Health Needs  Pump Up Your Fitness Program If you are a person who looks at others' bodies with envy, it's time to stop being passive and time to start pumping. After 40, it becomes very clear who chooses to work out and who doesn't. And that's what it is - a choice. If it's not a habit for you, it's a new habit you must create. Research shows that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Start today with a strength-training routine that will get you on the path to the healthy lifestyle and slim body you are seeking. All workouts are not equally effective, but strength training is the real key to a toned, lean physique. Want to reap the benefits of strength training? Here's how to do it right:
  Women and Men Hormone Imbalances and Solutions We will begin here. Menopause and Weight Gain - HRT and Weight Gain Maintaining proper weight is a challenge for people of all ages. However, the older you get, the more difficult it can be. It has been found that 90% of women experience weight gain between the ages of 35 and 55, not coincidentally, during peri menopause and menopause. While nutrition, exercise and lifestyle are critical elements to weight loss, balancing your hormones after the imbalance that peri menopause and menopause caused, is vital to your success in maintaining a healthier weight. Hormones and weight gain are closely related, if your hormones are not balanced, you can gain weight, especially with too much Cortisol or too little progesterone, testosterone or estrogen. Bio identical hormone therapy may tip the scales in your favor. The average weight gain is gradual, about 10 to 15 pounds starting in peri menopause and averaging to about a pound a year. However, women who experience early menopause as a result of surgical menopause (hysterectomy) tend to gain the weight at an even more accelerated pace. Menopause weight gain, thanks to the androgen hormone, tends to be located on your abdomen as opposed to your hips, thighs, or rear. Hormones and Weight Gain; What Causes Menopause Weight Gain? The hormone fluctuations in peri menopause and menopause directly impact your appetite, fat storage, and metabolism. Hormones and weight gain go hand in hand. So, menopause weight gain is actually hormone weight gain. Estrogen: It is common for estrogen levels to diminish during menopause causing cessation of ovulation. The decreased production of estrogen by the ovaries causes a woman's body to search for other sources of estrogen. Another source of estrogen is fat cells, so your body learns to convert more calories into fat, in order to increase estrogen production. This means weight gain. Progesterone: It is also common for progesterone levels to decrease during menopause. Progesterone's role in weight gain is more deceiving; low levels of the hormone do not actually cause you to gain weight, but instead cause water retention or bloating. This annoying side effect makes you feel heavier and makes your clothes fit tighter. Testosterone: Testosterone in a women works to build and maintain muscle mass among other things. These muscle cells work to burn calories in your body and cause a higher metabolism. Levels of this hormone decrease during menopause causing the loss of muscle mass and hence result in lower metabolism. This also results in weight gain. Other Causes: Insulin resistance and stress are also responsible for a woman's difficulty or inability to experience weight loss during menopause. Insulin resistance occurs when a woman's body incorrectly converts every calorie into fat; this is an extreme case of estrogen correction. Overtime, your body resists the insulin produced in your blood stream and you therefore experience weight gain. Stress is also a contributing factor to menopause weight gain. High stress puts your body into panic mode, preventing weight loss. Basically, your body begins to store food since stress hormones, namely high levels of Cortisol, are telling your body that you will not be eating again for a long time. These stored calories result in weight gain. Stress hormones and weight gain are a common problem among women. HRT and Weight Gain Women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) typically experience fewer problems with weight gain and redistribution of body fat. Estrogen enables leptin - a protein hormone that helps control the way that the body stores fat. Leptin helps by making you feel full so you eat less and increase the rate at which you burn calories. In addition to estrogen, testosterone helps maintain lean muscle mass and can also boost energy levels. Many women who supplement the hormones estrogen and testosterone with HRT are less likely experience weight gain and metabolic issues. Mens Hormone Imbalances and Solutions Andropause:The Male Menopause Don't let it slow you down seek professional treatment from a Doctor!  The Facts: Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen, giving the condition its name. In many cases, bio identical hormones can be part of the solution. When men get into their early 30s, they begin losing testosterone at a rate of one to two percent a year. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone levels in most 70 year old men were 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55 they can begin experiencing symptoms of andropause. The Importance of Testosterone: Testosterone assists the male body in building protein and is crucial for normal sexual drive and stamina, and in producing erections. Testosterone also contributes to several metabolic functions including bone formation, liver function, prostate gland growth and production of blood cells in bone marrow. Other Factors: While testosterone is declining in men, the Sex Binding Hormone Globulin (SHBG), also called androgen-binding protein, increases in levels. SHGB inhibits a substantial portion of remaining testosterone from working; the remaining working testosterone is referred to as bio available testosterone. Bio available testosterone declines with time, causing gradual male menopause symptoms. Andropause Symptoms The symptoms of male menopause: •Irritable Male Syndrome •Weight gain •Sleep apnea •Memory loss •Diminished libido •Hair Loss •Erectile dysfunction •Hot Flashes •Muscle loss •Depression •Fatigue •Night Sweats in Men •Gynecomastia (male breasts) Men's symptoms appear over the course of a decade or more and it becomes a very slow, insidious process that they attribute to getting old. Beyond undesirable symptoms, studies show that the decline of testosterone in andropause may put men at risk for heart disease and bone loss. Symptoms of andropause are also associated with stress levels, nutrition quality, fitness routine and the environmental toxins the body is exposed to on a daily basis. Why Isn't Andropause or Male Menopause More Well Known? While familiar among doctors, surprisingly few men are aware of male menopause or andropause. The condition has been found in medical literature since the 1940's, but since doctors lacked a method to properly diagnose the condition and because the symptoms are so gradual and vary from man to man, little was done to educate the population. As a result, andropause is under diagnosed and under treated. Luckily, state-of-the-art blood testing methods, like those used by these expert physicians, have been created that can properly monitor testosterone and diagnose andropause. The condition is now much better understood, as is treatment. Physicians have been extensively trained in andropause and its treatment of natural bio identical hormone replacement therapy. The Solution: Androgen Replacement Therapy The risks and benefits of testosterone replacement need to be evaluated by a qualified hormone therapy expert. Each man's anatomy and physiology are different, so androgen replacement therapy is not a one size fits all diagnosis. Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for men with low testosterone who want to boost their health and overall well-being. Perhaps the best news for men is that hormone losses and imbalances are easily correctable. And through proper treatment, these physicians can bring about a healthier, younger and more vital you. Just one more piece of useful information. I found this Magazine article recently and had to post it! Allure Magazine, May 2012 Issue Sugar & Skin Low Carbohydrate Diets may have benefits beyond weight loss.  High blood- sugar levels contribute to health problems such as weight gain, but a new study suggest that they can also accelerate skin aging.Researchers in the Netherlands and England had 60 assessors estimate the age of 602 volunteers based on facial photographs. After accounting for actual age, smoking, weight, body mass index, sun damage, and insulin functions, people with the highest blood sugar appeared older than those with the lowest levels. Studies have shown that high blood sugar can destroy the skin's collogen and elastin. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can lower blood sugar levels as well as minimizing consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, both of which are quickly converted to glucose in the body, says Kylie Smith, a scientist at the University of Tasmania in Australia. She recently found that women who eat hot takeout meals at least twice a week have higher blood sugar levels than those that don't- probably because they tend to be overweight, she says. Please visit the Sweetener Page for acceptable sugar substitutes. |
Tell me what you want!
I'm Listening
©2011- 2017 Kathy Rich All Rights Reserved