3 hormones that affect weight

We have already told you about the basic hormones that can affect weight and metabolism. These are hormones from the estrogen group. Now - a story about the next important hormones for the female body, the balance of which helps us normalize our kilograms.

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Progesterone is the pregnancy hormone

It is called so because this hormone prepares the female body for conception and bearing a child. When the level of progesterone in the body is high, the expectant mother begins to eat intensively everything she sees around. The appetite increases, and as a result - weight.

You need to be especially careful in the second half of pregnancy, when a pregnant woman’s appetite is especially great.

Progesterone's tricks also include an increase in breast size during pregnancy and fluid retention in the body, which can cause swelling.

How can progesterone affect weight?

Thanks to progesterone, everything a pregnant woman eats moves through the gastrointestinal tract much more slowly than usual. So nutrients are absorbed much better and more fully. Then the appetite also slows down.

Have you noticed that a pregnant woman is calm and enlightened (if there are no external factors irritating her). This is also the work of progesterone. It affects the brain of a pregnant woman, and her mood improves, reactions slow down, the expectant mother feels calmer. Of course, this is only good for the child.

But there is a small danger of weight gain again. Since appetite control systems are inhibited at this time, a pregnant woman can eat a lot and gain weight. You just need to keep scales at home and stop at the table in time.

Testosterone in the female body

Compared to a man's body, women have a much lower level of it. But this hormone is still present in the fair sex. However, over the years, women's testosterone levels drop significantly.

When menopause occurs, a woman's testosterone levels decrease significantly - by as much as 2 times. It is important to take into account that this can happen even before 30 if you do not undergo hormonal tests and do not monitor the level of testosterone in the blood.

Why do we need testosterone?

Thanks to it, the process of weight regulation is much easier. It is easy to lose weight and control weight. Testosterone, if there is enough of it in the female body, increases libido - then there are no problems with men. They feel the attraction of women to them and respond in kind.

Testosterone is called an anabolic hormone. Athletes need it to increase muscle mass and burn fat. Then a person looks fit and slim.

Note for those who are losing weight: if testosterone in the body actively cooperates with estradiol, that is, it is produced naturally or through hormone therapy, you can stay fit and slim for a long time. And, of course, control your weight.

Menopause and testosterone

There is one nuance: when a woman enters menopause, almost 95% of the estradiol hormone and more than half of the previous testosterone norm may leave the body (not be produced). This happens because the ovaries stop performing their role and producing the necessary sex hormones.

Therefore, a woman may begin to lose control over her weight and rapidly gain it. There is no need to worry and go on a strict diet. It is important to see a doctor in time during the pre-menopausal period and undergo hormonal tests.

The doctor will determine which hormones the body lacks and which need to be added to prevent fat deposits from being deposited so quickly and actively. After all, sex hormones have the ability to burn fat, promote muscle growth and activate metabolism.

DHEA - it is called the male hormone

This hormone, like testosterone, is produced by the adrenal glands and ovaries before menopause. According to many medication advertisements, DHEA helps to quickly get rid of excess weight. In fact, this is not entirely true: this hormone helps only men lose weight. It is ineffective for women.

As scientific research in recent years shows, DHEA for women, on the contrary, can have the opposite effect. Women taking it can quickly gain extra pounds and get a lot of health problems as a side effect.

They may start growing hair on their face and chest, and hair on their head may start falling out, acne may appear on the most unexpected parts of the body. A very unpleasant side effect is an increase in appetite, especially a love of sweets, which can cause women to eat tons of cakes and, of course, gain weight.

DHEA in large doses can contribute to a woman having trouble falling asleep, having restless sleep, and waking up exhausted and tired. Therefore, women should avoid DHEA unless this hormone in the right doses is recommended by a doctor.

Take care of yourself and see a doctor in time for a hormonal examination!

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