Maintaining a consistent and balanced diet is crucial for overall health and wellbeing, but it becomes even more important for individuals with hormone disorders. Hormones are the chemical messengers in our bodies that regulate various bodily functions, such as metabolism, growth and development, and mood. Any disruption in the hormone balance can cause various health problems, including weight gain, mood swings, and even infertility. In this blog post, we'll explore the connection between consistency in eating and hormone disorders.
Hormones are responsible for regulating our appetite and metabolism. Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, increases appetite, while leptin, the satiety hormone, reduces it. Insulin, another hormone, regulates blood sugar levels and metabolism. Any disruption in these hormones can cause changes in appetite, energy levels, and weight gain.
One of the ways to maintain hormonal balance is to follow a consistent eating schedule. Skipping meals or eating irregularly can cause fluctuations in hormone levels, leading to cravings, overeating, and weight gain. Eating consistently can also help regulate blood sugar levels, which is particularly important for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.
Furthermore, consistent eating patterns can also help regulate the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol is essential for regulating our response to stress, but chronic stress can cause cortisol levels to remain elevated, leading to various health problems. Eating in a rush, or frantically looking for any food because you are hungry will elevate your hormone levels and then you feel a big crash and burn after consuming food. Eating regularly can help regulate cortisol production, reducing the risk of chronic stress-related health problems.
Consistency in eating, the quality of food is also crucial for hormonal balance. Consuming a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods, full of micronutrients and healthy fats can help regulate hormone production. On the other hand, consuming processed foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats can cause inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances. Over time a build of thee response and you are more likely to see long term health issue like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, GI Tract issue and more.
While many people realize the value and importance of healthy food, consistency in eating, not many follow through! Here are three tricks to help get on a better track to feeling like a better you!
1- Set a timer for when you are suppose to eat- set a reminder timer (because lets be real we are good at ignoring the first cue)
2- Sometimes full meals are not always what we want or need, or have time for, having a snack, a protein bar, or anything that is easy to grab and go (does not have to be fancy but has some good nutrition qualities to it) is better than nothing
3- DO NOT WAIT until you are hungry to eat, this is when things hit the fan, and everything gets off track, while you might not always be hungry all the time finding little things you enjoy to eat (that are not filled with sugar to avoid a crash) this will keep you well fueled for the day and help you avoid raiding your refrigerator, over eating and more importantly feeling exhausted
Want more tips? Need more help! Email us at abilityfitnesschi@gmail.com!