Tag Archives: Stress Hormone Cortisol

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Hormone balance disruption

Hormone balance disruption

Hormone balance disruption is common with people who are smoking

Hormone balance disruption: The role of cigarette smoking hormones

The nicotine content in the cigarette is very harmful to human health. This is a common knowledge. However, many women may not know that besides risks like heart complications, lung conditions, several cancers and osteoporosis, hormone balance disruption is facilitated when we smoke the cigarette. Many women are the concern with other problems like how cigarette affects their beauty, fatigue and nutrient depletion because that is what can be physically be seen outright. All that has been mention are closely associated with cigarette smoking but for the purpose of this article, we want to look at how nicotine causes hormone imbalances. According to experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, research has established that premenopausal women who smoke have the higher risk of infertility, complications during the menstrual cycle and even get into early menopause. Besides that, it is also becoming evident that cigarette smoking also affects menopausal hormones.

Hormone balance disruption: Why you need to quit smoking

What is stated above is just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the risks associated with smoking. Therefore the evidence of how bad smoking is to your health is very overwhelming. And just a quick reminder, your consistent morning cough should alert you of the damage smoking is causing to your lungs. Remember that every stick of cigarette robes you off the much-needed energy in your body’s daily needs.

Quitting smoking will, therefore, enables you keep your hormones well balanced. And when this is achieved, you to will experience more mood stability and put to check your weight. Remember that even using nicotine patches and gum instead of smoking will help, because the chemicals added to cigarette tobacco and created by burning tobacco are thought to be those responsible for most of the negative side effects. In other words, it’s not the nicotine itself that’s so very harmful, it’s the delivery system. You can choose today to be free from all these challenges by calling doctor Dalal Akoury MD for a more professional direction about all the addictive elements of cigarette smoking and how it sabotages hormone balance.

Hormone balance disruption: Menopausal women

In menopausal women, cigarette smoking raises adrenal hormones such as cortisol (a stress hormone), and androgens (male hormones) such as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Chronically high cortisol levels create unstable blood sugar, which in turn causes high blood glucose and insulin which stimulates the ovaries to produce androgens. It, therefore, means that in a menopausal woman, the ovaries have slackened in the production of estrogen and progesterone, nonetheless, the production of androgens can continue well into her eighties. Androgens without the balance of estrogen and progesterone are the source of much-dreaded hair loss and whiskers in older women and cigarette smoking magnifies these effects.

Quitting smoking, combined with strategies to balance hormones such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), stress management, exercise, and reduction of sugar and refined carbohydrates, has dramatic potential to improve overall health, stabilize mood, increase energy, increase weight loss and improve sleep and that explains why you need to quit smoking now if not immediately.

Hormone balance disruption: The role of cigarette smoking hormones

 

 

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Cortisol application in weight management

Cortisol application

Cortisol application in weight management delivers the much needed lean body weight.

Cortisol application in weight management: Eliminating stress

In an effort of coming close to realizing our dream of keeping fit both physically and mentally, understanding cortisol application in weight management becomes very important. Therefore we want to relay on the expert opinion of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility which was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) to help us put this discussion to perspective. We are going to put all the facts straight, and therefore this is a discussion you don’t want to miss. We want to invite you to be part of us specifically to eliminate any ignorance that is likely to cause us to lose the focus of eliminating all the complications associated with weight complications in our lives.

From her decades of professional practice in this discipline, doctor Akoury when looking at the happenings in today’s society is very much concern with the kind of commercials that tout the effectiveness of supplements like Cortislim ™ and Relacore ™ that propose to help people lose weight and feel less stressed by inhibiting the effects of cortisol. Some of these commercials do not fully inform the general public effectively about:

  • The functions and importance of cortisol for bodily function.
  • The potential link between cortisol and obesity.
  • The potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite.
  • The harmful health effects of stress-induced obesity.

Therefore to bridge the gap, we want to shade more light on the above omissions so that together we can walk along in this worthy course of proper weight management.

Cortisol application in weight management: From where does cortisol come and for what purpose?

Cortisol has become a ‘prime’ hormone of fascination, discussion and confusion within the consumer and fitness industry, due to misleading television commercials and advertisements. It is a steroid (compound based from a steroid nucleus) hormone that is produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands located on top of each kidney. Fasting, food intake, exercising, awakening, and psychosocial stressors cause the body to release cortisol. Cortisol is released in a highly irregular manner with peak secretion in the early morning, which then tapers out in the late afternoon and evening. Energy regulation and mobilization are two critical functions of cortisol. Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right type and amount of substrate (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands that is placed upon it.

Cortisol mobilizes energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores and moving it from one location to another, or delivering it to hungry tissues such as working muscle. Under stressful conditions, cortisol can provide the body with protein for energy production through gluconeogenesis, the process of converting amino acids into useable carbohydrate (glucose) in the liver. Additionally, it can move fat from storage depots and relocate it to fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also aids adipocytes (baby fat cells) to grow up into mature fat cells. Finally, cortisol may act as an anti-inflammatory agent, suppressing the immune system during times of physical and psychological stress. All these and many more are the reasons why cortisol application in weight management make sense. You may want to know more about cortisol and weight management by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a one on one further deliberations.

Cortisol application in weight management: Eliminating stress

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Obesity an addiction

Cortisol importance in weight management

Cortisol importance

Cortisol importance in weight management can not be over looked

Cortisol importance in weight management: The link between cortisol and visceral obesity

The cortisol importance directly effects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Tissue cortisol concentrations are controlled by a specific enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. This particular enzyme is located in adipose (fat) tissues. Studies with human visceral (fat surrounding the stomach and intestines) and subcutaneous fat tissue have demonstrated that the gene for this enzyme is expressed more by obese conditions. It has also been demonstrated in research that human visceral fat cells have more of these enzymes compared to subcutaneous fat cells. Thus, higher levels of these enzymes in these deep fat cells surrounding the abdomen may lead to obesity due to greater amounts of cortisol being produced at the tissue level. As well, deep abdominal fat has greater blood flow and four times more cortisol receptors compared to subcutaneous fat. This may also increase cortisol’s fat accumulating and fat cell size enlarging effect.

The potential link between stress, cortisol and appetite

Animal and human studies have demonstrated that cortisol injections are associated with increased appetite, cravings for sugar, and weight gain. Epel et al. demonstrated that premenopausal women who secreted more cortisol during and after novel laboratory stressors chose to consume more foods high in sugar and fat. It has been thought that cortisol directly influences food consumption by binding to receptors in the brain (specifically, the hypothalamus). This can stimulate an individual to eat food that is high in fat and/or sugar. Cortisol also indirectly influences appetite by regulating other chemicals that are released during stress such as CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone), leptin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY). High levels of NPY and CRH and reduced levels of leptin have been shown to stimulate appetite.

Cortisol importance in weight management: Harmful health effects associated with stress-induced obesity

Chronic stress can contribute to several harmful physiological events. When body tissues are exposed to high levels of cortisol for extended periods of time, some cellular and tissue alterations may occur. High levels of cortisol cause fat stores and excess circulating fat to be relocated and deposited deep in the abdomen, which left unchecked can develop into or enhance obesity. In addition, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids), and hyperglycemia (elevated glucose) have been linked to elevated cortisol levels. Individuals with a high waist-to-hip ratio (which identifies visceral obesity) are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease.

The significance of cortisol in stress management

Finally professionals should ensure that their clients are aware of the links between stress and abdominal obesity. Cortisol is a necessary hormone responsible for fuel regulation and is released while exercising, eating, awakening, and psychosocial stress. However, if there is too much cortisol in circulation, abdominal obesity can develop. This type of central obesity is linked to developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease. An effective and regular exercise and stress management program may be key in reducing or preventing stress-induced obesity. That is why you will always benefit more if you constantly consult with doctor Akoury about the cortisol importance in weight management from time to time.

Cortisol importance in weight management: The link between cortisol and visceral obesity

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Different effects of stress in human health

Different effects of stress

Different effects of stress in human health are many. Being stressful can lead you into drugs

Different effects of stress in human health: When it heart the most

Stress affects sexual function in very many ways as we have mentioned before on this link. It is also worth noting that sexual arousal is a parasympathetic nervous system response, whereas orgasm and ejaculation are a sympathetic nervous system response. According to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, when you have high stress, this stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, decreasing stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and not allowing arousal to take place. Insulin is the only hormone that lowers blood sugar, whereas cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon and growth hormone all raise blood sugar. Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine are all stress hormones. This is how different effects of stress in human health will increase blood sugar, causing insulin levels to rise, to lower the blood sugar and ultimately causing insulin resistance.

Different effects of stress in human health: Gastrointestinal tract

Stress will also have effects on the gastrointestinal tract. It will decrease hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) and mucus production, slow the motility of the small intestine and increase the motility of the large intestine. When you have a decrease in stomach acid and mucus production, this will decrease the amount of gastric protection of the stomach. The high cortisol levels from stress will decrease immune function, therefore making it a favorable environment for Helicobacter Pylori to proliferate, and causing a gastric ulcer. If the small intestine is slower to recover from stress the motility is impaired and constipation results. When the large intestine is slower to recover from stress, motility is increased and diarrhea results.

Different effects of stress in human health: Threats of cardiac unrest

Stress will increase cardiac risk in many ways. It will increase blood pressure. It can increase cholesterol for production of the stress hormones as already mention. The stress hormones (catacholamines) are detoxified through methylation this could decrease the methylation capacity to detoxify homo-cysteine. High levels of homo-cysteine are very toxic to the cardiovascular system. As stated earlier, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinphrine raise glucose levels. The higher blood sugar level will cause the release of insulin. Insulin will increase cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and decrease HDL. The increase in body fat caused by stress as already mentioned is another cardiac risk factor.

Cortisol has a half-life of 100 minutes meaning that if you are under stress and have a cortisol release, in 100 minutes you will have 50% of that cortisol still in your system, after 200 minutes 25% and so on. If you are under constant stress you will continuously have high cortisol levels and have the physiological responses of that cortisol. Finally and like had indicated that it will not matter the kind of stress that affects you. All have the same effects and the body response to them in the same way. If you are under any kind of stress, it would be very important that you look for immediate solutions to prevent other illnesses that may be triggered by stress itself. In this case, scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury would be the first step you can take towards getting lasting solutions for a better health thereafter.

Different effects of stress in human health: When it heart the most

 

 

 

 

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Cortisol Connection and weight management tips

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: The role stress play in weight complications

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips are very important in the elimination of all weight related complications

In our previous article we dwelt much on the significance of cortisol in stress management and now we want to focus our discussion on the cortisol connection and weight management tips that will be useful for all of us in keeping fit. With the help of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD). This is a discussion we want to invite you to be part of specifically to eliminate any ignorance that is likely to cause us to lose the focus of eliminating all the complications that are associated with weight complications in our lives. Doctor Akoury from her over two decades of professional practice is looking at the happenings of today’s society and she is very much concern with the kind of commercials that tout the effectiveness of supplements like Cortislim ™ and Relacore ™ that propose to help people lose weight and feel less stressed by inhibiting the effects of cortisol. Some of these commercials do not fully inform the general public effectively about some of the following:

  • The function and importance of cortisol for bodily function.
  • The potential link between cortisol and obesity.
  • The potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite.
  • The harmful health effects of stress-induced obesity.

Therefore to bridge the gap, we want to shade more light on the above omissions so that together we can walk along in this worthy course of proper weight management.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: Where does cortisol come from and what is its purpose in the body?

Cortisol has become a ‘prime’ hormone of fascination, discussion and confusion within the consumer and fitness industry, due to misleading television commercials and advertisements. It is a steroid (compound based from a steroid nucleus) hormone that is produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands located on top of each kidney. Fasting, food intake, exercising, awakening, and psychosocial stressors cause the body to release cortisol. Cortisol is released in a highly irregular manner with peak secretion in the early morning, which then tapers out in the late afternoon and evening. Energy regulation and mobilization are two critical functions of cortisol. Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right type and amount of substrate (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands that is placed upon it. Cortisol mobilizes energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores and moving it from one location to another, or delivering it to hungry tissues such as working muscle. Under stressful conditions, cortisol can provide the body with protein for energy production through gluconeogenesis, the process of converting amino acids into useable carbohydrate (glucose) in the liver. Additionally, it can move fat from storage depots and relocate it to fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also aids adipocytes (baby fat cells) to grow up into mature fat cells. Finally, cortisol may act as an anti-inflammatory agent, suppressing the immune system during times of physical and psychological stress.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: The potential link between cortisol and visceral obesity   

Cortisol directly effects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Tissue cortisol concentrations are controlled by a specific enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. This particular enzyme is located in adipose (fat) tissues. Studies with human visceral (fat surrounding the stomach and intestines) and subcutaneous fat tissue have demonstrated that the gene for this enzyme is expressed more by obese conditions. It has also been demonstrated in research that human visceral fat cells have more of these enzymes compared to subcutaneous fat cells. Thus, higher levels of these enzymes in these deep fat cells surrounding the abdomen may lead to obesity due to greater amounts of cortisol being produced at the tissue level. As well, deep abdominal fat has greater blood flow and four times more cortisol receptors compared to subcutaneous fat. This may also increase cortisol’s fat accumulating and fat cell size enlarging effect.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: What is the potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite?

Animal and human studies have demonstrated that cortisol injections are associated with increased appetite, cravings for sugar, and weight gain. Epel et al. demonstrated that premenopausal women who secreted more cortisol during and after novel laboratory stressors chose to consume more foods high in sugar and fat. It has been thought that cortisol directly influences food consumption by binding to receptors in the brain (specifically, the hypothalamus). This can stimulate an individual to eat food that is high in fat and/or sugar. Cortisol also indirectly influences appetite by regulating other chemicals that are released during stress such as CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone), leptin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY). High levels of NPY and CRH and reduced levels of leptin have been shown to stimulate appetite.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: Harmful health effects associated with stress-induced obesity

Chronic stress can contribute to several harmful physiological events. When body tissues are exposed to high levels of cortisol for extended periods of time, some cellular and tissue alterations may occur. High levels of cortisol cause fat stores and excess circulating fat to be relocated and deposited deep in the abdomen, which left unchecked can develop into or enhance obesity. In addition, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids), and hyperglycemia (elevated glucose) have been linked to elevated cortisol levels. Individuals with a high waist-to-hip ratio (which identifies visceral obesity) are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease.

Are there any practical assessment tips for the fitness professional to utilize? To help identify clients with a potential risk for the diseases described above (which are associated to stress-induced obesity) and distinguish any patterns of fat distribution, fitness professionals can utilize a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) measurement or waist circumference measurement. The WHR is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips. The waist measurement is at the narrowest part of the torso between the ribs and iliac crest. The hip measurement is around the buttocks at its maximum posterior extension.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: The significance of cortisol in stress management

Finally professionals should ensure that their clients are aware of the links between stress and abdominal obesity. Cortisol is a necessary hormone that is responsible for fuel regulation and is released while exercising, eating, awakening, and psychosocial stress. However, if there is too much cortisol in circulation, abdominal obesity can develop. This type of central obesity is linked to developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease. An effective and regular exercise and stress management program may be a key to reducing and or preventing stress-induced obesity.

Cortisol Connection and weight management tips: The role stress play in weight complications

 

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