Hormonal Balance
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Stress and Your Hormones
We are living in stressful times. Stress disrupts hormonal
balance in many ways. Stress causes insulin resistance, lower
estrogen (in women), lower testosterone (in men), lower
growth hormone and higher cortisol levels. Stress also
reduces the body’s ability to convert thyroid hormone to an
active form. Each one of these changes slows metabolism and
leads to weight gain.
Now, all of us experience stress. And our bodies have adapted
to handle the normal hormonal surges that occur with stress.
This acute, short-term stress does not cause problems.
Chronic, long-term stress, however, is something else entirely.
Too much stress causes longer-term elevations of stress
hormones leading to hormonal imbalance.
Many diets make you lose weight in such a way that it places
tremendous stress on your body. Chronic stress also causes
the body to shift its focus away from its normal activity. Stress
causes the immune system to wane, muscles to shrink and, in
general, a lousy feeling throughout your body. This is why
most diets ultimately fail.
We are living in stressful times. Stress disrupts hormonal
balance in many ways. Stress causes insulin resistance, lower
estrogen (in women), lower testosterone (in men), lower
growth hormone and higher cortisol levels. Stress also
reduces the body’s ability to convert thyroid hormone to an
active form. Each one of these changes slows metabolism and
leads to weight gain.
Now, all of us experience stress. And our bodies have adapted
to handle the normal hormonal surges that occur with stress.
This acute, short-term stress does not cause problems.
Chronic, long-term stress, however, is something else entirely.
Too much stress causes longer-term elevations of stress
hormones leading to hormonal imbalance.
Many diets make you lose weight in such a way that it places
tremendous stress on your body. Chronic stress also causes
the body to shift its focus away from its normal activity. Stress
causes the immune system to wane, muscles to shrink and, in
general, a lousy feeling throughout your body. This is why
most diets ultimately fail.
