Can Diet Changes Regulate Your Hormones to Lose Weight?

I have been recommending “The Hormone Cure” book by Dr. Sara Gottfried with some amazing patient results! Jessica (our guest author) graciously offered to write a post explaining the science correlating hormone balance and weight loss. Be sure to visit her site as well! We have been talking about limiting grains in the diet for prevention of blood sugar issues so keep that in mind as well. EAT YOUR VEGGIES!

Jessica writes:

Can Diet Changes Regulate Your Hormones To Lose Weight?

Modern research suggests that it is possible to modify your daily diet to bring about changes in the ways your body hormones are functioning. Dietary changes will influence hormone levels and help you lose weight. So, weight loss is not only about shedding calories or having a strong willpower; it has quite a lot to do with the way your hormones behave. Although it sounds strange, what you eat can actually regulate your hormonal functions.

Hormonal imbalance is responsible for different forms of ailments, ranging from cancers to amnesia. Studies show that nearly 40 chemicals actually work to influence one’s appetite. When your hormones are not in control, your weight loss efforts can suffer a setback even if you are following a healthy well-balanced diet. Since hormones are produced when the body has enough cholesterol and good fats, it is important to have these foods as part of your everyday diet in order to release important hormones.

How diet changes can affect hormone functions:

Control omega-6 intake: Cortisol hormone leads to heightened appetite particularly for comfort foods that are sugar-rich and fattening. If you can avoid the omega-6 polyunsaturated fats you can protect yourself from inflammation. These fats are unstable and get oxidized easily, causing mutation and inflammation of arteries. Instead, you should focus on including monounsaturated fats and saturated fats because these benefit health. So, vegetable oils, peanut oil, margarine etc are best avoided; it is wiser to opt for real butter, coconut oil and olive oil.
Limit caffeine consumption: Excess caffeine can adversely affect the endocrine system especially when you are already feeling the effects of other hormone stressors. You can switch to drinking herbal teas.
Limit toxins: Toxins are present in household chemicals and plastics, and pills for birth control likewise can play havoc with your hormones. When you already have hormonal imbalance or trying to get pregnant, you need to stay away from such toxins. You should avoid storing foods in plastic containers and choose organic produce and organic meats.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil can work wonders for your hormones by providing the building blocks for their production. Therefore, it helps in weight loss, reduces inflammation and has anti-bacterial properties.
Increase fiber intake: When you eat more fibers like raw fruits and vegetables and whole grains, you can not only lose weight but improve the release of old estrogen from your body. This in turn leads to an improved overall hormonal balance.
Increased meat and carb intake: When you include more carbs and meat in your daily diet, you get more energy for hormone production. For instance, seafood that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids or low-fat meats is an excellent source of fiber which can contribute to weight loss.
Eat more vegetables: You can include fibers and vegetables in the diet to control leptin resistance. Veggies contain important vitamins and antioxidants that reduce inflammation which interferes with leptin secretion. This in turn improves the body’s fat-burning power and helps to reduce your cravings.
Opt for meal delivery services: You can consider joining reputed weight loss meal delivery services that deliver portion controlled meals. As they prepare meals especially to lose weight, the above said factors would be well imbibed in their diet plans. Moreover you need not bother about counting calories or cooking healthy meals each day when you join such programs. For instance, Nutrisystem is a popular weight loss meal delivery service which delivers nutritionally balanced and portion controlled meals to their dieters. The meals are usually low glycemic, low-fat, low carb, low sodium and are devoid of trans and saturated fats. So, considering the diet services is one of the wisest options to lose weight.

These are some easy dietary changes which can help in the release of important hormones that allow you to maintain an optimal weight. Weight loss is guaranteed to happen when your hormones are working optimally and your diet is well-balanced.

Author Bio:

Jessica Robert Keenly blogs about weight loss ideas and diet tips. She runs a simple blog displaying helpful articles on easy dieting methods and weight loss ideas.

Image link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspiredhomefitness/8753895157/sizes/z/

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Whole Food 1 Comment

The Virgin Diet and 7 Amazing Doctors!

Hey wellness warriors! You’ve seen these top doctors on TV and maybe have even read their books but here is a fabulous opportunity to listen to them speak first had for FREE!!!!!

Check this out here: http://www.7days7docs.com

Starting tomorrow JJ Virgin is offering a great opportunity to listen to 7 of the top doctors in nutrition including:

Dr. Sara Gottfried – author of “The Hormone Cure”

Dr. William Davis- author of “Wheat Belly”

Free downloads by:

Dr. Daniel Amen- author of “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body”

Dr. Mark Hyman- author of “The Blood Sugar Solution”

and more—-you can register today to listen to the program that starts tomorrow –there should be some invaluable information shared and there are also free downloads and coupons available.

If you haven’t heard of JJ Virgin she is the author of “The Virgin Diet” A New York Times Best Seller

Check out this opportunity–

	Sara Gottfried, M.D. teaches women how to balance their hormones naturally so they can rock their mission. She is a Harvard-educated physician, speaker and author of The Hormone Cure (Simon & Schuster, 2013). She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is regularly featured in magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Redbook, O Magazine, and Yoga Journal, and TV including The Ricki Lake Show and 20/20. Known for quoting Top 40 lyrics and effortlessly blending the seriousness of women’s health with playfulness and humor, Dr. Sara’s mission is to help women feel sexy and vital from their cells to their soul.
	Alan Christianson is a Phoenix, Arizona-based Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) who specializes in endocrinology and hormone replacement with a focus on thyroid disorders. He founded Integrative Health, a group of physicians that focus on optimal wellness rather than disease. Accolades include Top Doc recipient in Phoenix magazine. Dr. Christianson’s publications include The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease, Healing Hashimotos and the Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Chapter of the 9th Edition of the Textbook of Natural Medicine. His numerous media appearances include The Today Show, The Doctors, CNN and Shape Magazine.
	Dr. Anna Cabeca frequently lectures nationally and internationally regarding women’s health issues. She is an Emory University trained and board certified Gynecologist and Obstetrician, as well as certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, an expert in Functional Medicine, and an expert in women’s sexual health. She specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and natural alternatives, successful menopause, age management medicine, and sexual and reproductive health. She is the co creator of SexyYoungerYou.com, and creator of WomensRestorativeHealth.com and SexualCPR.com. A mother of 5 and multi-lingual she brings an integrative world view to a reforming modern medical model.
	Founder of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, Dr. Frank Lipman is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of Integrative and Functional medicine. For over 20 years his personal brand of healing has helped thousands of people reclaim their vitality and recover their zest for life. In 2010 he created Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a line of cutting-edge, science-based nutritional supplements and health solutions. He is the author of two books, Total Renewal and Revive.
	Nationally acclaimed innovator and expert in the fields of integrative medicine, psychiatry, and addiction recovery, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Cass helps individuals withdraw safely and comfortably from addictive substances (including medication), and enhance mind, mood and energy with the aid of natural supplements. She appears often as a guest on national radio and television, including The Dr. Oz Show and is the author of numerous articles and several popular books including: The Addicted Brain and How to Break Free, Natural Highs, 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, and Supplement your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition.
	After 20 years practicing western medicine, most notably as Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief of Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital, Dr. Finkelstein pursued a more holistic approach to his work by founding a renowned wellness center, SunRaven in Bedford, NY. A nationally recognized radio show host, sought after expert contributor and soon-to-be published author of 77 Questions for Skillful Living, Dr. Finkelstein tirelessly promotes his concept of “Skillful Living,” the practice of treating the business of living healthy as a skill that must be developed with mindful, dedicated attention.
	William Davis, MD, asked the question: Why are so many people, who seem to do everything right, still overweight and unhealthy? Asking that question led him down the path of questioning whether the “eat more healthy whole grain” message was true. When he asked patients to remove all foods made of wheat, he witnessed profound and unexpected turnarounds in health: unprecedented amounts of weight loss and reversal of a long list of health conditions from acid reflux, to joint pain, to binge eating. This was the motivation to write Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health and the Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Help You Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health. Wheat Belly is now an international phenomenon, published in 17 languages and featured on the Dr. Oz Show, Live! With Kelly, CBS News, and other national media. Dr. Davis practices preventive cardiology in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

http://www.7days7docs.com also like her page on facebook or follow her on twitter!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Angela in Body, Diet, Exercise, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Against the Grain—part 2

So in the last 3 weeks I have been putting on weight and belly fat like crazy. I didn’t figure it out till this morning when I was putting together this post on wheat—-Bingo (light bulb)– A few weeks ago I got the crazy notion to add some goldfish crackers on my salad at lunch. My obsessive compulsive habits had me eating those little heathens daily. Despite eating primarily PALEO, that little bit of wheat has started that vicious wheat belly cycle all over again. Needless to say, I will be eliminating those today.

So here is the part 2 of the dreaded wheat conundrum–wheat is a drug! Crack if you must.

Wheat actually acts like an opioid in the brain. Like all opioids, wheat can stimulate appetite. In 1981, the glycemic index was first introduced and ironically wheat had a higher index than sugar and white bread. Wheat elevates sugar levels which in turn elevate insulin levels. Insulin resistance can then ensue which can lead to diabetes. Wheat has a component called amylopectin A which can really elevate insulin levels. Not to mention that it contains the protein Gliadin which can cross the blood brain barrier. It actually unlocks the intestinal barrier which can allow foreign antigens to enter the blood stream. This leads to Leaky Gut Syndrome. But, more on that to come……