Beat Belly Fat

By Hklbrries

One of the most common concerns I hear fro,m both male and female patients is that their once slim physique is now home to an ever-expanding population of fat cells, especially around the abdominal area, which tend to be particularly stubborn to remove with age. The good news is that there are things you can do today to beat belly fat through the years.

Subdue your chronic stress hormone - cortisol. Not only does excess cortisol increase appetite and cravings, it causes abdominal fat even in people who are otherwise thin. It also leads to a loss of memory, muscle mass, libido and even bone density. In other words, chronic stress makes you soft, flabby and much older than you truly are.

If your blood sugar levels are on a roller coaster all day, you can bet your cortisol is as well. You can reduce the stress associated with blood sugar imbalance by eating a high-protein breakfast within one hour of rising and avoiding more than a three- to four-hour gap between meals or snacks. Also, use stress-management techniques such as meditation and sufficient sleep.

Eliminate excess estrogen. In both men and women, water retention, poor libido, difficulty in losing belly fat, weight gain around the hips in premenopausal women or in the breast and abdomen area of both men and postmenopausal women. If any of these symptoms are an issue, you need to increase the elimination of harmful estrogen by increasing your fiber intake (to 35 grams per day) and supplementing daily with a probiotic to replace healthy bacterial balance in the gut, which is essential for supporting belly-fat loss.

You may also consider indole-3-carbinol or a formula that provides the nutrients involved in the breakdown and elimination of estrogen, such as magnesium, B complex and calcium D-glucarate.

Master the ins and outs of insulin. Insulin is the only hormone that instructs the body to store energy as fat. Released mostly in response to the sugar and carbohydrates in your diet, it is one of the main reasons why carbs fuel more belly fat, cravings or an incessant appetite as you age. The best way to decrease insulin along with your waistline is to increase your healthy fat and protein intake while lowering your consumption of starchy carbohydrates (breads, grains, potatoes, rice, etc.).

For example, instead of cereal for breakfast, opt for a smoothie with whey protein isolate, berries, ground flaxseeds and almond butter. Not only will you have more energy and stable blood sugar levels, you will also notice a reduction in body fat.

Natasha Turner, ND (www.thehormonediet.com), is the author of The Hormone Diet and The Supercharged Hormone Diet.

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