Hormones Cortisol and Serotonin Affect Human Weight
Ever wonder why a hectic day sends you diving face-first into a bag of chips? That’s the result of your adrenal glands releasing the stress hormone cortisol.
From conquering cravings to revving metabolism,
hormones are the key in weight loss or gain.
Here’s how to use them to your advantage.
Feeling Hormonal?
Cortisol is a Stress Hormone.
That response, which is meant to give you a burst of energy for fighting or fleeing, can often remain high due to sustained stress. leaving you craving high-sugar or high-carb – fast sugar – foods .
There’s even some evidence that cortisol causes you to accumulate fat specifically in your belly.
Serotonin has the opposite effect: It calms you down and is a natural appetite suppressant.
BALANCE Hormones OUT
To get the same effect without drugs or sugary high-calorie carbs, load up on folate-rich lentils, asparagus, and spinach. Your brain uses the B vitamins in these foods to make serotonin.
Getting enough sleep helps, too. A study in the Journal of Clinical Neurology found that cortisol levels can double after a single all-nighter. The ball is in your court – small changes can make a huge difference on the balance of hormones in your system.
This post was made possible by Melinda Moyer.
This is such a very interesting and informative read. So great to know about all these facts. Thanks for the info.
Such an informative post. Actually I try my best to stay healthy with a proper diet plan, but stress really causes a lot of setback anytime. I must admit that we need to stick to some basic plans to make sure we are in better shape & health in future!
This is a great reminder to all of us to pay attention to what is going on around us. Stress can wreak havoc on our bodies
My eyes are fixated on that plate of sweets, haha! Thanks for the info. 🙂
This is such a helpful post. When I am stressed I eat a lot of carbs and sweets, so I definitely should pay attention to a well-balanced diet and get enough sleep. Pinned your post!
This is very useful. I will have to eat some lentils more often. I feel stressed quite often. 🙁
This has been really informative. I guess I’ve been super stressed lately, thus the weight gain. I am conscious about the cravings for more sugar and I have been struggling to sleep as well.
My hormones play a huge part in how I feel each day. I am definitely a stress eater. I try to keep only healthy foods in the house so when I am stressed I can not pig out.
As far as I’m concerned, life would be much easier without hormones LOL (Of course, this is coming from a 7.5 months pregnant woman LOL)
I have a serious sweet tooth and certainly feel like a hormonal imbalance could be a big reason why. Looks like it’s time to make some dietary adjustments.
Thanks for the great info. I had no idea. Lots of interesting information.
Very interesting article! I’ve been eating too many bad carbs lately. I need to make some changes
I admit, most of what’s on those plates looks pretty darn good to me. For me it isn’t hormonal at all, I just like foods like that.
That’s interesting. Hectic days for me usually leave me carving some healthier. I wonder if mine is hormone related.
My hormones are all over the place right now. I have been trying to focus on a good diet, but it’s not helping.
This is why it’s important to have a balanced diet, because the lack of nutrients in the body can lead to health issues and more. This is good advice and it’s important to stay healthy as we age!