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BY DR. NATASHA TURNER
In the summer, the last place you want fat lingering is at your waist. It seems this is the first place those few pounds land and the last place they leave. Love handles aren’t just unattractive: carrying weight around the abdomen is bad for health and worse than carrying weight on your hips or thighs. It’s also a key indicator of a hormonal imbalance.
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 bdominal fat sets a risky stage for aging, with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. A program to rid stubborn fat includes sleep, proper diet and exercise. This healthy balance is the perfect motivation to create fat loss.
Extra belly fat indicates one or more of these hormonal imbalances: high estrogen, low testosterone, low DHEA (adrenal glands hormone), high insulin and high cortisol.
Insulin is essential for processing sugar in the bloodstream and carrying it into cells
for use as fuel or the excess is stored as fat. A primary cause of high insulin is excess intake of sugar or carbohydrates, typical of many diets today, along with insufficient protein intake, inadequate fat intake and a deficiency of fibre. Nutrient-poor carbohydrates include: processed foods, packaged low-fat foods, and sugary drinks and sodas. Insulin resistance can be attributed to lack of exercise, overindulging in alcohol, stress, a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and excess body fat around the abdomen. Chronically high levels of insulin can also lead to a
pre-diabetic condition called metabolic syndrome (or insulin resistance) and type
2 diabetes which precipitates further weight gain.
Belly fat solution
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) along with a balance between protein, good fats and low glycemic carbohydrates such as legumes, non-starchy vegetables, berries, nuts or rye bread helps to correct this cycle. The minimum dosage for CLA is 1,500 mg twice daily with food for at least three months.
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. While this hormone gets us out of bed in the morning feeling energized, high levels are detrimental to body composition, destructive and tear us down over time. Mood disorders including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and exhaustion or digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome and day-to-day stressors all crank up cortisol levels. Not only do your appetite and cravings
increase, there’s loss of muscle mass, libido and bone density. Depression and memory loss also occur. In other words, chronic stress makes us soft, flabby and much older than we truly are. Studies show that stress causes abdominal fat − even in thin people.
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Belly fat solution
Symptoms alone warrant treatment. Your estrogen levels can also be tested using saliva or blood. If imbalanced consider indole-3-carbinol, or Clear Detox – Hormonal Health formula, which helps rid the body of excess negative estrogen and corrects estrogen to testosterone balance.
Testosterone levels decrease as stress increases, and as abdominal fat converts it to estrogen. Under stress, the body makes more of the cortisol than testosterone. Testosterone levels tend to taper off with aging, obesity and stress, and today men
experience testosterone decline much earlier in life. This alarming finding is linked to depression, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease and even death. Other signs of low testosterone include loss of muscle tissue, decreased strength, stamina, drive and motivation. Researchers found that men with low testosterone are more likely to develop a potbelly. They also found that when deficient levels are replaced, testosterone may prompt the loss of body fat.
Belly fat solution
The herb Tribulus terrestris may help raise levels by reducing the binding of testosterone to the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) without side effects. Zinc supplements may also help raise testosterone levels, as will weight training. Also ensure sufficient intake of protein.
DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone and counteracts the negative effects of cortisol. Often touted as the anti-aging hormone, DHEA influences the ability to lose fat and gain muscle. It boosts libido and helps us feel motivated, youthful and energetic.
Belly fat solution
DHEA levels are measured in the blood or saliva and supplements should only be taken with a diagnosed deficiency. The herbal formula relora, may reduce cortisol and raise DHEA levels within two weeks of use, without risk of side effects. I suggest two 250 mg capsules at bedtime; one upon rising. DHEA can also be raised with strength training and meditation.
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Belly fat solution
Consider relora or phosphatidylserine, which work to reduce cortisol levels. Recommended dosage for relora is two pills in the evening before bed and one pill upon awakening. For phosphatidylserine, take 100 - 300 mg before bed.
Abdominal fat in men increases the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. As estrogen levels rise, so does the accumulation of abdominal fat, refueling the cycle. Risk of prostate cancer also increases with higher estrogen levels. A premenopausal woman with high levels of estrogen (also known as estrogen dominance) will likely have PMS, too much body fat around the hips and difficulty losing weight. Menopausal women and men may also experience low libido, memory loss, poor motivation, depression, loss of muscle mass and increased belly fat.
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This omnipotent hormone affects almost every cell in the body and has a major impact on feelings, actions and appearance. Growth hormone is naturally released during deep sleep and exercise. It’s essential for tissue repair, muscle building, bone density and healthy body composition. The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism (2007) linked abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women with low growth hormone secretion, elevated inflammatory markers and
increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since this regenerative hormone declines with age, supplements that increase growth hormone are often promoted as a way to slow the effects of aging.
Belly fat solution
Sleeping in total darkness releases melatonin to trigger a slight but critical cool-down in the body. As body temperature drops, growth hormone is
released and works its regenerative magic. Sleeping with lights on or eating too close to bedtime retards the natural cool-down process, creating low levels of both melatonin and growth hormone. Include three short, intense 30-minute strength training sessions weekly to naturally boost growth hormone levels. H&L |
Natasha Turner, a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor is founder of the Clear Medicine Wellness Boutique. The author of the bestselling book The Supercharged Hormone Diet, now available in bookstores across Canada. thehormonediet.com
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