Let's Talk About Hormones

Most of the general population knows it has something to do with chemicals but have never had the need to find out exactly what part they play in our bodies.

In simple terms, hormones are chemicals produced by glands that are present in various places around the body. They travel through the bloodstream to get to organs and tissues and command their operations. Hormones are important in regulating major bodily processes such as:

· Metabolism and appetite

· Heart rate

· Sleep cycles

· Reproductive cycles and sexual function

· General growth and development

· Mood and stress levels

· Body temperature

Now that we know a little about hormones, we can explore what a hormonal imbalance means! Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a certain hormone in the bloodstream. Due to the vital role they play in our body, even the smallest hormonal imbalance can cause side effects.

Both men and women can be affected by imbalances in insulin, growth hormones, and adrenaline. Only women can be effected by imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels whereas only men can be effected by imbalances in testosterone levels. This is due to our different reproductive organs.

Now that we have general knowledge on what hormones are, we can look into one of the most common side effects that both men and women tend to carry around! How many weeks and months have you spent meal planning and prepping to reach your weight loss goals? If you are one of the unlucky individuals that keep dieting and clean eating without any form of end result, hormone imbalance is the first reason you should investigate. Let's be honest, keeping to a weight loss diet is not an easy task and when you step on that scale at the end of the month to find out you have not made any progress is not only disheartening but a slippery slope into old unhealthy habits.

Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors may also play a role in hormonal imbalances.

Let's have a look at some causes of hormonal imbalances:

· Chronic or extreme stress.

· Type 1 & 2 Diabetes.

· Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

· Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

· Poor diet and nutrition

· Being overweight

· Hormonal replacement or birth control medications

My advice is - before you give up on the hard work you built by reverting to your old ways, make sure you visit a hormone expert to ensure you're doing all you can to loose that extra weight. Only by knowing what's wrong are you able to fix it!

Credit: Francesca Mangion

If you want professional help, and further guidance to helping you understand your body, your hormones and losing weight then feel free to drop me an email so I can guide you and let you know what programs & systems I offer that would be perfect for you. Otherwise check out my list of Hormonal Balance services here