9 Hormones that lead to weight gain and how to prevent it from happening

Weight gain is often associated with excess food intake. However, it can be caused by various hormones that are unbalanced in our body. Although we know that gaining weight is easy, we are aware that losing weight is not. Various triggers such as stress, age, genetics and poor lifestyle choices can cause a hormonal imbalance that leads to obesity.

O awesome.club identified 9 hormones that cause an imbalance in our body, resulting in weight gain. In addition, we will tell you how you can control these hormones. Read to the end! We found this post very interesting!

The thyroid gland is found at the base of our neck. It produces the hormones T3, T4 and calcitonin, responsible for maintaining our metabolism. Underproduction of these hormones leads to hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder usually associated with weight gain, mainly due to the accumulation of fluid in the body rather than the accumulation of fat, which makes a person appear overweight.

How to avoid:

Consume iodized salt. Eat well-cooked foods and avoid raw vegetables and vegetables. Insert vitamin supplements into your diet. Consume foods rich in zinc content, such as oysters and pumpkin seeds.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. It helps transport glucose for cells to use for energy or to store it as fat, thus maintaining blood glucose levels. Excessive consumption of processed foods, unhealthy or unhealthy snacks, alcoholic or artificially sweetened drinks can cause the body to develop insulin resistance.

This causes muscle cells to not recognize insulin bound to glucose, keeping glucose in the bloodstream. The result is increased blood sugar levels, which leads to weight gain and the onset of type 2 diabetes.

How to avoid:

Eat leafy green vegetables in addition to seasonal fruits and vegetables. To improve your omega-3 fatty acid levels, consume fish rich in good fats, nuts, olive oil, flax seeds. Drink at least 4 liters of water every day. Start exercising at least 4 hours a week. Avoid alcohol, late night snacks, artificially sweetened drinks.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which reacts when we are depressed, anxious, stressed, angry or physically hurt. Its main function is to reduce and decrease stress levels, increasing blood sugar levels, as well as suppressing the immune system and helping the body to metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates. But given our hectic lifestyle, our body can be in a constant state of stress, which leads to increased cortisol production. This harms our health in general, as well as helping in the deposition of visceral fat and stimulating the maturation of adipose (fat) cells.

How to avoid:

Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Avoid processed foods, fried foods and alcoholic beverages. Try to practice deep breathing, yoga and meditation for at least an hour every day. This helps to reduce stress levels. Spend more time with your family and close friends. There’s no better way to relax!

Testosterone is considered a male hormone, but it is also produced by women. It helps to burn fat, strengthens bones and muscles and, in addition, increases libido. Advanced age and high levels of stress can cause a significant decrease in testosterone levels in women, which leads to loss of bone density and muscle mass and obesity.

How to avoid:

Practice physical activities regularly. This helps maintain good testosterone levels.

Avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Take supplements that contain protein.

Include fiber-rich foods like whole grains, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds in your diet.

The level of progesterone and estrogen must be balanced in the body for it to function properly. The amount of progesterone can decrease for a number of reasons such as stress, use of birth control pills, menopause, etc. This can cause weight gain and even depression.

How to avoid:

Practice physical activities regularly. Try meditation. Avoid stress.

Estrogen, also known as estrogen, is the main female sex hormone. Any imbalance in your levels can lead to weight gain. High levels in the body can be the result of overproduction of the hormone or a diet rich in this element.

When estrogen levels rise, insulin-producing cells become stressed. This causes the body to become resistant to it, which causes an increase in blood glucose and, as a result, weight.

Women who are premenopausal have lower levels of estrogen. To replenish its supply, the body starts looking for other sources of production. Among them are fat cells. But when estrogen levels drop, the body starts converting all available energy sources into fat to replenish glucose levels. This leads to weight gain.

How to avoid:

Eat whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages. Practice physical activities regularly. Avoid processed foods.

Leptin is a hormone that regulates energy balance in the body, inhibiting hunger. But when we eat foods high in sugar, excess fructose is converted into fat, which in turn is deposited in the liver, belly, and other regions of the body. These cells produce leptin.

The more this hormone is secreted, the more our body becomes insensitive to it. This causes the brain to stop receiving signals to suppress appetite.

How to avoid:

Avoid foods high in sugar. Do not consume more than 3 servings of fruit per day. Eat dark green leafy vegetables. Avoid processed foods. Have a good night of sleep. 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily is recommended. Stay hydrated!

Secreted primarily by the stomach, ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. It stimulates appetite and increases fat deposition. Ghrelin levels are also high when people follow a strict diet or fast.

How to avoid:

Practice physical activities regularly. Eat every 2 or 3 hours.

Drink 1.5 glass of water 20 minutes before each meal.

Eat fresh fruits, vegetables and protein-rich foods.

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness. While we sleep, the body releases growth hormones that help it recover, improve body composition and build lean muscle. However, if we don’t sleep well, this process is disrupted, causing stress and ultimately leading to inflammation-induced weight gain.

How to avoid:

Don’t eat too late at night or just before going to bed. Get enough sleep. Sleep in a completely dark environment and at a cooler temperature. Turn off all your electronic devices before bed.

While some names may sound complicated and you may have never heard of some of them, we’re sure you’ve already figured out which hormones might be causing you to gain weight. Tell us in the comments below!