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One of the most frustrating fat areas on the body to lose is in the midsection with what many call “belly fat.” But what causes this stubborn belly fat? Belly fat can be caused by an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise. but one common suspect is hormone imbalance.
The reason for this is that when your hormones are out of balance, you may experience weight gain in some areas of your body and have trouble losing it.
But how can you determine if you have a hormone imbalance? and how can you fight it? what are the causes?. In this article, we will discuss these questions as well as other ways to help reduce belly fat naturally.
What Causes A Hormonal Belly In Women?
There are many different reasons why one may experience a hormonal imbalance and develop a “hormonal belly.”
Thyroid Hormones
Hormones regulate our basic bodily functions such as digestion, metabolism, and reproduction. The thyroid gland secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), two types of hormones that can increase or decrease the metabolic rate depending on the circumstances.
The thyroid gland is located in the neck and regulates body temperature, heart rate, muscle strength, weight, skin color, menstrual cycles, pregnancy rates, physical growth rates in children. (1)
The thyroid gland plays a big role in regulating your metabolism and hormone levels. Reverse T3 is an inactive form of thyroid hormone that can be created when there is an overproduction of T4. When the body is producing too much reverse T3 and not enough T4, you can experience many different side effects such as weight gain and fatigue.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone released by the body in order to deal with stress. It is produced by the adrenal glands and released when confronted with a stressful event.
High levels of cortisol in the body can lead to high blood pressure and obesity, while too little cortisol can cause depression and fatigue.
As such, there are many reasons why women may experience an imbalance of this hormone. Cortisol plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels, but too much of it can lead to insulin resistance which leads to excess abdominal fat storage.
This happens because high amounts of cortisol cause the liver to produce more glucose than needed by cells throughout the body. The extra glucose then gets stored around your waistline.
Leptin
Leptin is another hormone that plays an important role in regulating appetite. It works by helping your body know when you are full and when you need to eat more.
When the leptin levels in your blood are high, it sends a signal to your brain that it needs more food.
The hormone also tells the body whether it should store energy as fat or burn calories for fuel. However, if it’s out of balance, this will lead to overeating and gaining extra fat including the midsection area.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Women who are diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have a hormonal imbalance due to their levels of estrogen and insulin which regulate their menstrual cycle.
This condition is the most common cause of women experiencing hormone dysfunctions, also contributing to other health issues such as weight gain or difficulty losing weight, specifically in the face or midsection. (2)
Menopause
Many women experience a change of balance during menopause. Women entering menopause may see an increase in weight gain or difficulty losing weight no matter what they try.
This is because hormones are changing and the body is going through a lot of different changes, too. (3)
What Are The Signs Of Hormonal Belly Fat?
Hormonal imbalances can be a tricky thing to diagnose. These are some of the signs that you may be suffering from Hormonal Belly:
Gaining Belly Fat While Eating Healthy and Working Out
Many factors can contribute to an increase in belly fat, but if you've been eating healthy and working out but still experience an increase in belly fat, it might be due to hormonal imbalance.
Intense Sugar Cravings
Often times when people get off a restrictive diet or stop eating sugar altogether, they experience intense cravings for sugar.
However, if that isn’t the case, sugar cravings can indicate that your hormones aren’t balanced. Hormones such as insulin and cortisol both affect your appetite and how you feel.
Consequently, blood sugar levels fluctuate. Having dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin can cause you to feel hungry even if you don't need more food. (4)
Extreme Mood Swings
Hormonal imbalances can make you feel moody and stressed. Hormones are responsible for our mood, stress levels, and mental clarity.
When hormones are imbalanced, it can make us swing from one emotion to the next no matter what kind of day we're having.
The good news is that there are small changes we can make in our lifestyle patterns to help balance our hormones, which will then lead to a better sense of well-being.
Feeling tired all the time
If you're feeling exhausted all the time, despite getting enough sleep, it might be due to hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance can make it difficult for your body to recharge.
There are several reasons for this problem, including excessive stress or skipping meals - both of which can lead to hormonal changes. But if you suspect that this is the cause of your exhaustion, it's important to see a doctor who specializes in hormone balancing as soon as possible.
How To Reset Your Hormones Naturally?
Several changes can be made to naturally rebalance your hormones and allow you to lose weight even in this frustrating area.
Add Whole Foods to Your Diet
In order to balance out your hormones, one of the first steps you should take is switching from junk food to whole foods. Highly processed foods can cause more dramatic swings in blood sugar and insulin.
These fluctuations lead to changes in other hormones that can impact your mental health, energy levels, metabolism, immune system, and even the way you look.
Start to an Anti-inflammatory diet
Inflammation is a contributor to many health issues, including hormone imbalances. Cutting down on foods that may increase inflammation can be helpful in balancing hormones.
Foods like sugar, alcohol, caffeine, processed food, and dairy products promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are stress signaling proteins that can disrupt the endocrine system and cause hormonal imbalances.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting has been shown to be a helpful tool in weight loss and reducing insulin resistance, but it is also purported to have some added benefits.
Some believe intermittent fasting can reduce cortisol levels during the day, thus naturally balancing your hormones.
Hormonal Belly Workouts
You can beat the bloat by standing up and doing a few exercises. These exercises are all you need to tighten and strengthen your core muscles. Additionally, they also help you to release excess stomach acid that contributes to bloating.
Here are some exercises you can try to get rid of that belly:
Core Strengthening Exercises
The core is an important muscle group that supports the spine and other parts of your body. Crunches, V-ups, plank exercises are all great exercises for this area because they work out the muscles in the core.
When you do any exercise that exercises these muscles, they will tighten and tone your midsection. This can be helpful for those who want to lose weight or just improve their overall health and fitness level.
Cardio Workouts
If you’re looking to lose weight, tone up lower abs, or improve your cardiovascular health, cardio workouts like running, biking, and swimming are a great way to do so.
They're safe for nearly everyone and provide a good workout for the heart and lungs. Workouts that include both aerobic exercise and strength training can have even more benefits.
Practice some Yoga
yoga is great for your body in many ways. Beyond feeling better and living healthier, yoga has been linked to reduced cortisol levels, which can lower the risk of disease.
Yoga has also been shown to reduce stress levels by lowering heart rate and blood pressure, improving blood circulation, increasing lung capacity, and decreasing muscle tension.
Practicing yoga consistently may even lead to fat loss in the midsection area because it builds muscle and decreases fat.
Pilates workouts
There are many benefits to doing Pilates workouts. Not only do they strengthen your muscles and improve your posture, but they can also reduce lower back pain and help you get rid of belly fat which is caused by hormonal imbalance.
With all of these benefits, it's no wonder that Pilates has become very popular in recent years.
Final Thoughts
In addition to maintaining a healthy way of life, diet is a significant element when it comes to eliminating Hormonal belly fat.
To ensure that you eliminate stubborn belly fat, keep an eye on your diet and make sure that you're incorporating adequate exercise and getting enough sleep.
Healthy lifestyle changes can not only reduce excess weight but also improve your quality of life. These changes can help promote a healthier, happier you.
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