Hormones. There those tiny little
things within your body that play a huge part in your weight, your height, the
texture and the amount of hair you have, the size of your chest, your skin type
and even your mood.
While hormones may be tiny, they have
a huge impact on your overall health and well being. If they’re tweaked just
enough in the wrong direction, you could end up being irritable, tired and
feeling like you’ve put on weight.
Fortunately, there is a way that you can reset your
hormones and put your body and mind back on the right path. Here are some simple suggestions that will help you do just that:
·
Sleep in cool temperatures. When you sleep,
your body temperature naturally rises, and when you feel hot while you’re
sleeping, you’re more inclined to toss, turn, wake up and throw the covers off
of yourself. When your sleep is disturbed, so are your hormones. In fact,
disturbed sleep can cause your body to produce less leptin, the hormone that is
responsible for controlling your appetite and weight gain. In order to avoid a
huge change in your hormone levels, try setting your thermostat a little lower
before you go to bed. Sleeping in cooler conditions will help your body feel
cooler, which means you will have a more restful sleep.
·
Don’t crash diet. Though the allure
of a crash may be tempting, avoid it. A sudden reduction in your calorie intake
can cause your thyroid hormone levels to drop and slow down your metabolism.
You can still lose weight, though; just eight a well-balanced diet all the
time.
·
Skip the caffeine. Try nixing your
caffeine habit. Caffeine can increase the production of cortisol, the stress
producing hormone. So, the more caffeine you consume, the more stressed and
irritable you will be.
·
Avoid those PMS cravings. When that time of
the month arrives, it’s normal to crave things like chocolate; however, try to
avoid it. Instead, satisfy your craving for sweets with a sweet fruit, which
will bring your magnesium levels back up – something that is depleted when
you’re PMSing.
·
Pump up the workout. Step up your
workout and you’ll speed up your metabolism and boost your production of
endorphins, those feel good hormones that boost your mood and your immune
system. Try listening to music to motivate you to push harder and you’ll also
increase your serotonin levels.