Cortisol 

You’ve been exercising, watching your diet, and are watching the number on the scale continue to decrease. Are you still noticing some stubborn belly fat that doesn’t seem to budge? This could be due to the stress hormone cortisol. Research has shown that high cortisol levels increase the accumulation of fat for men and women in the belly area. Cortisol influences things like your digestion and metabolism, mood, and immune system responses. Finding ways to manage your stress will help get your cortisol levels under control, which could help you in targeting that unwanted fat. Making time for hobbies, meditation, and reducing caffeine can lead to lower cortisol levels. 

Curious to see what else could be affecting your weight loss journey? Check out our Weight Management at-home test kit to get the answers you need regarding your cortisol levels and other hormones contributing to weight gain. 

Thyroid Hormones 

In last week’s blog we took an in-depth look at the function of the thyroid. T3 and T4 are two of the hormones your thyroid produces, and they have direct correlation to how efficient your metabolism is. Over or under production of these hormones can wreak havoc on our digestive system, impacting how quickly your intestines process food and how efficiently you burn calories.  

If you find yourself struggling with weight loss, you might want to consider a thyroid blood test. Getting an appointment to see your doctor, sitting in an exam room wearing a gown while you sit on a paper covered table, and then convincing your doctor to run a thyroid test might not be how you want to spend your day. At My Labs Direct, we offer a simple at-home Thyroid test. You order online, conduct the test in the comfort of your own home, and receive results via email within a couple of days. 

Testosterone 

Although testosterone is an androgen, which is a ‘male’ sex hormone, it is still produced by both males and females. Low testosterone levels can produce a myriad of symptoms in men and women, such as:  

• Depression 
• Low libido 
• Weight gain 
• Moodiness 

Testosterone production begins to decline after age 30, but there are some natural ways to help maintain healthy testosterone levels. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and reducing stress are things you can do to boost your testosterone levels. If you have very low levels of testosterone, your doctor may suggest a course of testosterone therapy. Go into your next doctor’s appointment prepared – order an at-home Men’s or Women’s Complete Hormone test and present the findings to your doctor so they can suggest a course of action. 

Leptin 

Leptin is a hormone that is directly tied to body fat and obesity. Its function is to control hunger and regulate energy use. When it’s doing its job, you won’t feel hungry when your body doesn’t need energy. Since leptin is produced by fat cells, the higher your body fat is the more leptin your body produces. According to Healthline, “people with obesity may experience leptin resistance. This means the message to stop eating doesn’t reach your brain, eventually causing you to overeat.”  

There are a few things you can do to improve your leptin response: 

• Get quality sleep 
• Consume enough protein and healthy fats 
• Cut down on sugar 
• Reduce snacking 

Working to reverse your leptin resistance will help you control unwanted weight gain. 

Ghrelin 

Ghrelin is known as the ‘hunger hormone’ because it stimulates appetite, increases food intake, and promotes fat storage. It is basically the opposite of leptin. Ghrelin also activates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, which builds up muscle and breaks down fat tissue. Furthermore, ghrelin reduces inflammation. 

Studies have shown that ghrelin levels increase after dieting, this means signals are being sent to your brain to eat more. This can explain the struggle some people face with maintaining weight loss. While ghrelin is just one hormone that is part of a very complex system, aiming to maintain a moderate weight will help to regulate how this hormone may be leading to you consuming a surplus of calories.  

Insulin 

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It plays an important role in regulating carbohydrates and metabolizing fat, which normalizes glucose levels. As we ingest simple carbohydrates such as white bread or sugar, insulin levels spike. This quick rise in insulin levels causes our body to stop burning fat and to instead store all the incoming food as mostly fat.  

Diets that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vegetables can help to improve insulin resistance, this will reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.