We're going to explore the 7 best drinks that can help balance your hormones and kickstart weight loss.. These beverages are not just refreshing but also play a crucial role in regulating your metabolism and controlling those pesky cravings.
We'll show you how these drinks affect hormones, such as dopamine and insulin and back it up with scientific evidence.
You’ll be amazed when you find out the effects of one common spice in your kitchen on weight loss.
Let's first discuss the power of green tea, specifically its main ingredient, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
EGCG has a significant impact on insulin, a hormone important for weight control. Insulin acts as a regulator for our blood sugar levels, directing glucose into our cells where it's used for energy or stored. When insulin works efficiently, cells respond quickly to its signals and less insulin is needed. This is known as improved insulin sensitivity, which EGCG promotes.
Why does this matter? High insulin levels can lead to weight gain. By boosting insulin sensitivity and reducing the need for insulin, EGCG can help prevent this weight gain.
A 2009 research paper published in The International Journal of Obesity found that green tea significantly reduced body weight and helped maintain it after fat loss.
This wasn't just one small study; it combined data from multiple global studies involving overweight or obese but otherwise healthy adults. Participants were asked to consume either green tea or a placebo while maintaining their usual diet and exercise routines. The result? Green tea drinkers lost more weight than placebo consumers and were better at maintaining their weight loss.
In conclusion, green tea's EGCG enhances insulin sensitivity, helping regulate blood sugar levels and prevent high insulin levels that could cause weight gain.
Now let’s discuss lemon water. It's a straightforward drink, but don't underestimate its potential. This modest drink is a heavyweight in the weight loss arena, and it owes this to one crucial component: Vitamin C.
You may be curious about the connection between Vitamin C and weight loss. The answer lies in the hormone cortisol. Often dubbed the "stress hormone," our bodies ramp up cortisol production when we're under stress. Here's where it gets fascinating.
Cortisol directly influences your body's weight loss capabilities. Elevated cortisol levels cause your body to cling to fat, particularly in the belly region. This happens because cortisol sends your body into survival mode, signaling it to conserve energy for possible future use - essentially, instructing your body to retain fat.
Cortisol also increases appetite and may also ramp up motivation to eat. High cortisol can also lead to other health complications like sleep disturbances, which leads to furtherweight gain.
Vitamin C has been shown to help lower cortisol levels. When you consume lemon water, which is rich in Vitamin C, it helps your body manage high stress levels more effectively by reducing the amount of cortisol produced.
This is where lemon water steps onto the stage. By consuming lemon water, which is abundant in Vitamin C, you're effectively aiding your body in reducing its cortisol output.
What happens when cortisol levels drop? Your body receives the message that it's safe to release stored fat. The outcome? Weight loss becomes more manageable.
So, when you're thirsty next time, think about replacing that sugar-laden soda or rich latte with a glass of invigorating lemon water. You'll not only hydrate your body but also provide it with a healthy dose of Vitamin C that can help regulate those stubborn cortisol levels and simplify your weight loss journey.
The next drink is Apple Cider Vinegar added to water. The key compound here is Acetic Acid, which influences one of the most important hormones for weight control - Insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that your pancreas produces. Its primary function is to manage the sugar, or glucose, derived from the carbohydrates in your diet. It either utilizes this glucose immediately for energy or reserves it for later use. Now, here's where apple cider vinegar, abundant in acetic acid, comes into play. Well like EGCG from tea mentioned earlier, it also enhances insulin sensitivity, and, heightened insulin sensitivity can deter fat storage and encourage fat burning.
An intriguing study which was carried out at Japan's Central Research Institute of Mizkan Group Corporation verified this.
The researchers assembled 155 obese Japanese participants with similar body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. They were randomly segregated into three groups with comparable body weight, BMI, and waist circumference. For a duration of 12 weeks, these participants were instructed to consume 500 ml daily of a beverage containing either 15 ml of vinegar (750 mg AcOH), 30 ml of vinegar (1,500 mg AcOH), or no vinegar at all as a placebo.
The results were quite revealing! Both groups that consumed vinegar exhibited significantly more weight loss than the placebo group throughout the study! That's right; regular intake of vinegar could potentially aid in reducing obesity by inhibiting body fat accumulation.
Let's look at a further drink to support hormonal weight loss, ginger tea. The star player in ginger tea is Gingerol, a compound that has been proven to significantly influence the hormone Leptin. Leptin is a key hormone , when it comes to weight loss.. Its primary function is to relay information to our brain, specifically the hypothalamus, about our energy storage status.
High levels of Leptin signal to your brain that you have ample energy reserves, reducing feelings of hunger. However, complications arise with the development of leptin resistance - where the brain fails to react appropriately to leptin. This can result in feeling hungry more frequently than necessary, potentially leading to weight gain.
This is where Gingerol steps up. It boosts leptin sensitivity, whichcan aid in appetite regulation and stimulate fat burning.
A study conducted at Columbia University and New York Obesity Research Center found that participants who consumed ginger felt more satisfied after meals compared to those who didn't consume ginger.
This research was with overweight men as participants. They were instructed to consume 2 grams of dried ginger powder dissolved in hot water with breakfast. The researchers then tracked their feelings of fullness for several hours post-meal. The outcome? Participants who consumed ginger reported feeling significantly fuller than those who did not consume ginger.
Moving on, let's talk about Golden milk. This drink is made from turmeric which has a special ingredient - curcumin. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric
And it can help weight loss by its effect on Estrogen:. Estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating body weight. However, an imbalance in estrogen levels can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Here's where curcumin steps in. Curcumin in turmeric helps to control certain enzymes that increase estrogen and cause weight gain. By managing this, turmeric helps in maintaining a balance.
Our next drink has a positive effect on metabolism
This drink is a flaxseed smoothie, adding these seeds in with some berries, plants based milk and some baby spinach will create a delicious drink which contains compounds called lignans.
Lignans are polyphenols, a type of plant compound. While many foods contain them, flaxseeds are particularly rich in these compounds. These tiny powerhouses have an intriguing interaction with estrogen also.
Lignans interact with estrogen in our bodies in two significant ways. Firstly, they impersonate estrogen and bind to its receptors, which diminishes the overall impact of estrogen. Secondly, they encourage the production of a protein known as sex hormone-binding globulin or SHBG.
SHBG latches onto estrogen in the blood and decreases its availability for use by our cells. This results in less free estrogen to stimulate fat storage, which could lead to potential weight loss.
So when you whip up a smoothie, add in some flaxseeds. Then you're not just creating a delicious beverage; you're also assisting your body's regulation of estrogen metabolism which can support your weight loss efforts.
Another great drink to help with hormonal weight loss is Chamomile tea, specifically a compound found in it called Apigenin. Now, while Apigenin's direct impact on weight loss might not be as strong as some other compounds, it has a unique role in our body's metabolic processes. It boosts the production of a coenzyme known as NAD.
NAD is like the control center for turning food into energy and regulating metabolism. As we age, our bodies produce less NAD, which can slow down our metabolism and make weight loss more challenging. Apigenin helps maintain NAD levels in our body, fighting against the natural decline that comes with aging.
But that's not all! Chamomile tea also affects another hormone: Melatonin. You've probably heard of melatonin in relation to sleep. Drinking chamomile tea can increase melatonin production, leading to better sleep quality and duration.
And why does sleep matter for weight loss? Well, poor sleep has been linked to hormonal imbalances that can lead to weight gain. When we don't get enough quality sleep, our bodies produce more of the hunger hormone ghrelin and less of the satiety hormone leptin. This imbalance can lead to overeating and weight gain.
So while chamomile tea might not directly cause significant weight loss, its impact on hormones like NAD and melatonin makes it an excellent addition to your diet if you're trying to lose excess pounds.
That about wraps it up, if you’re struggling to reach your ideal body weight it might be your hormones, so make sure you click the link below this video to take our hormonal balance quiz and get a personalized hormonal report tailored to your hormone type. Also if you found this video helpful please subscribe and leave a comment below
