Weight Loss And Your Hormones[1]

Weight Loss & Your Hormones

September 17th, 2009

WEIGHT LOSS AND YOUR HORMONES

Afreen Pappa, MDJAVĀNI Med Spa



OBESITY CRISIS

US Obesity Rates



OBESITY CRISIS

US Obesity Rates



OBESITY CRISIS

Texas 28.3% Obesity



WHY SHOULD ANYONE CARE?

• Health consequences of excess weight– Heart disease– Type 2 Diabetes– Breast, uterus and colon cancer– High blood pressure– High cholesterol– Stroke– Liver and Gallbladder disease– Sleep apnea– Arthritis– Female problems



WHY SHOULD ANYONE CARE?

• Economic Consequences– Significant impact on the health care

system– Estimated that $51 to 78 billion spent on

direct and indirect costs of excess weight in 1998

– That number can easily be tripled today



WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

• Look your best• Feel your best• Avoid chronic illnesses• Increase your quality and quantity of

life



HOW DID WE GET HERE?

• Traditional medical thinking– Caloric imbalance– Inactivity– Genetics– Diseases and medications

Actually, there’s more to weight than the above….



THE MISSING PIECES

• Fad diets• Hormonal imbalances• Nutritional deficiencies• Toxins• Brain neurotransmitters• Allergies

Weight gain is a multi-factorial problem and requires a solution that addresses all problems



The Body’s Symphony



FAD DIETS

• Low fat • Low carb• AHA diet• Mediterranean diet



Cortisol

DHEA

Estrogen

Progesterone

TESTOSTERONE

Insulin

Growth Hormone

Leptin Ghrelin

Thyroid

Essential Hormones



CORTISOL

• Produced by the adrenal glands• The only hormone that increases with

age• Increases with stress• Prolonged stress leads to adrenal

fatigue (cortisol deficiency)



CORTISOL

• Adrenal Fatigue - Cortisol deficient state

– Cravings for sugar, salt, caffeine, soft drinks

– Afternoon slump, joint aches, multiple allergies/sensitivities, rashes, psoriasis

– Frequent illnesses including digestive problems

– Weight gain in abdomen, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, insomnia

– Not recognized by traditional MD’s



Acute Response

Chronic Response (adrenal fatigue)



DHEA

• One of the fastest declining hormones with age

• Promotes a sense of well being• Affects metabolism of serotonin (a

vital brain neurotransmitter)• Impaired by hydrogenated fats

(margarine)



ESTROGEN

• Three types of Estrogen– Estrone (E1)

• Produced by ovaries• After menopause produced by adrenal glands

and fat tissue• Levels change in the 40’s and drop sharply in

50’s• No specific deficiency symptoms• High levels

– High blood pressure, strokes, heart attack, clots– Breast and prostate cancer– Shifts fat from hips to abdomen



ESTROGEN

• Three types of Estrogen– Estradiol (E2)

• Produced by ovaries when not pregnant• Levels wax and wane in the 40’s and drop sharply in the

50’s• Strongest of estrogens with positive effects on bone, heart

and brain health• Puts fat on hips which helps with insulin response• Deficiency symptoms and conditions

– Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia– Decreased brain function and dementia– Loss of collagen from tissues– Headaches– Osteoporosis– Depression, decreased libido– Hypertension



ESTROGEN

• Three types of Estrogen– Estriol (E3)

• Produced by the placenta during pregnancy• Protects from breast cancer• Important neurological effects• Deficiency symptoms and conditions

– Vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract infections and incontinence

– Decreased libido– Loss of collage from tissues– Dementia, Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis



GENDER BENDERS

• Estrogen imposters– Pesticides– BPA– Dioxins– Chlorine– Toxins– Cause

• Weight gain• Irregular menstrual cycles• Early puberty• Increased risk of breast cancer



GROWTH HORMONE

• Peaks around age 12• Builds muscle mass• Burns fat• Increases with strength training,

eating adequate amounts of protein• Inhibited by frequent meals• Controls insulin• Secreted at night and requires proper

sleep to work well



GHRELIN

• Produced in the gut• Increases appetite• Lowered with aerobic activity• Disturbed by poor sleep• Increased by thinking of food



INSULIN

• Produced by the pancreas• Allows sugar to be taken up by cells for energy• Insulin resistance is the main hormonal abnormality

in the US– Pre-diabetes– Type 2 Diabetes– By the age of 35 most individuals have some level of

insulin resistance– Causes sugar to be taken up by fat cells and stored as fat

• Deficiency symptoms– Weight gain in abdomen, under chin, upper flanks, inner

thighs– Hypoglycemia



INSULIN

• Conditions associated with insulin excess– Diabetes Type 2– Heart disease– Cancer– PCOS– Obesity– Elevated triglycerides– Acne



LEPTIN

• Produced by fat cells• Controls appetite• Levels disturbed by refined carbs,

sugars and trans fats• High levels associated with insulin

resistance• Improved with Omega-3 fats



PROGESTERONE

• Produced by the ovaries and placenta

• Levels start to decline in the 30’s• Stimulates receptors in the brain,

bone formation, uterine lining to support pregnancy

• Decreases turnover of breast, ovarian and uterine cells – reduces risk of cancer



PROGESTERONE

• Deficiency symptoms– Insomnia– Anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings,

PMS– Headache– Insulin resistance leading to weight gain– Hot flashes– Decreased libido– Heavier menstrual bleeding– Digestive problems



PROGESTERONE

• Deficiency associated conditions– Depression and the use of anti-

depressants– Breast cysts, Fibrocystic breast disease– Ovarian cysts– Uterine fibroids– Infertility, PCOS, Endometriosis– Bone loss and Osteoporosis



TESTOSTERONE

• Found in men and women• Decline begins

– mid-40’s in women– mid-30’s in men– earlier with stress and nutritional

deficiencies

• Stimulates and maintains muscle and bone mass while decreasing fat



TESTOSTERONE

• Deficiency can cause– Decreased libido and sexual function– Poor mental functioning – Fatigue– Loss of confidence– Depression/anxiety in men– Joint and muscle pain– Insulin resistance



TESTOSTERONE

• Deficiency associated conditions– Bone loss, Osteoporosis– Weight gain– Dementia, Alzheimers disease– Heart disease, stroke– High cholesterol– Diabetes



THYROID

• The most important metabolic hormone• Decline begins in 40’s or earlier with stress,

nutritional deficiencies and exposure to electromagnetic radiation

• Many processed foods and drugs decrease thyroid activity

• Bromine, an additive to bread, pastas and all enriched products, sports drinks, & Mountain Dew increases hypothyroidism

• Affected by fad diets, polyunsaturated oils, nutritional deficiencies, adrenal dysfunction, artificial sweeteners (Splenda)



THYROID

• Deficiency symptoms– Low energy– Low mental clarity, memory, focus,

concentration– Weight gain– Depression– Hair loss, dry hair and skin– Cold intolerance– Constipation– Elevated bad cholesterol



THYROID

• Deficiency associated conditions– Chronic fatigue syndrome– Fibromyalgia– Congestive heart failure– Osteoporosis– Dementia– Infertility– High cholesterol



Cortisol

DHEA

Estrogen

Progesterone

TESTOSTERONE

Insulin

Growth Hormone

Leptin Ghrelin

Thyroid

Essential Hormones



FAD DIETS AND HORMONES

• Low fat diet– High in sugar– Discriminated against good and bad fats– Fats & cholesterol are needed for

hormone production– Adverse effects

• Increase insulin and insulin resistance, cortisol and leptin

• Decreases growth hormone, DHEA and sex hormones

• Hypothyroidism




• Low carb diet– High in protein and fat

• Gout• Kidney stones

– Red meat and processed meats linked to cancer, heart disease

– Adverse effects• Low growth hormone• Hypothyroidism• Margarine impairs sex hormones and leptin




• Mediterranean diet– Carbs from whole grains, vegetables and

fruits– Protein from beans, poultry and seafood– Rich in monounsaturated fat (olive oil

and avocadoes)– Moderate amounts of alcohol




– Benefits• Heart healthy• Reduces risk of cancer

– Risks• Alcohol affects hormones

– Raises insulin and impairs sugar metabolism– Lowers testosterone– Increases estrogen– Affects cortisol– Leads to weight gain from empty carbs



COUNTRIES WITH HIGHEST RATES OF OBESITY

Rank Country Prevalence

1 USA 30.6%

2 Mexico 24.2%

3 UK 23%

4 Slovakia 22.4%

5 Greece 21.9%

6 Australia 21.7%

7 New Zealand 20.9%

8 Hungary 18.8%

9 Luxembourg 18.4%

10 Czech Republic 14.8%



HORMONE FRIENDLY DIET

• Balanced in all macronutrients – Protein– Carbohydrates– Fat

• Complex carbs• Enough protein to

support muscle development

• Natural fats to support hormone synthesis

• No processed foods• Little to no dairy• Organic foods• Limited caffeine• Limited alcohol• Limited meals to

boost growth hormone (unless hypoglycemia or diabetes)




• Good Carbs– Whole grains– Vegetables– Fruits– Beans

• Protein– Beans– Seafood– Poultry– Limited red meat

Plate Portions

VegetablesComplex CarbsProtein




• Good fats– Monounsaturated

• Olive oil (cold pressed)• Avocadoes• Nuts• Peanut oil• Safflower oil• Animal fat

– Polyunsaturated• Omega-3 (Fish oil, flax seed oil)• Omega-6 (corn oil, cottonseed oil) in limited amounts• 2:1 Omega-3:6

Plate Portions

VegetablesComplex CarbsProtein



AVOID

• Margarine• Soybean oil• Food additives

– Artificial sweeteners– High fructose corn syrup– MSG– Sugar– Hydrogenated (trans) fats– Hormones



Cortisol

DHEA

Estrogen

Progesterone

TESTOSTERONE

Insulin

Growth Hormone

Leptin Ghrelin

Thyroid

Essential Hormones



The Body’s Symphony

Weight Loss And Your Hormones[1]

Documents

obesity crisisus obesity

brain healthputs fat

obesity crisistexas

high blood sugar

insulin resistanceimproved

weight loss

prostate cancershifts

fat tissuelevels change