While we continue to advocate for a well-oiled metabolic motor that keeps excess body fat at bay, is the relentless pursuit of low body fat levels wrecking our hormones?
In a world that is so image-based, the desire for a svelte and smooth body has imposed itself as at the top of popular discourse in fitness. There seems to be a trend, especially in the social media space that chiseled abs and lower body fat percentages are synonymous with health. But behind the glitz and glamour, there lies some chilling facts: being too lean can wreck your hormones as well as destroy health.
The Hormonal Landscape
Hormones act as the body's chemical messengers and are involved in controlling several physiological functions such as: metabolism, mood, reproduction, etc. Some examples of this include testosterone, estrogen, insulin and cortisol all connected to body fat levels. These hormones are essential not only for performance, but also your mindset.
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Testosterone: Testosterone has been called the “male hormone” and is required for building muscle, staying energized, and being a man. Testosterone Optimization Therapy (TOT) with Dr. Jay Cambell – #276 Research has revealed that a reduction in testosterone levels is to be expected due to remarkably low body fats—normally 10% for men and 15% for women. This drop can translate to reduced libido, energy and muscle wastage — exactly the opposite of what most fitness enthusiasts aim for.
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Estrogen: Women with very low body fat or who are underweight can have impaired estrogen levels which is important for healthy ovulation and reproductive health. When it comes to women, low estrogen leads to irregular menstrual cycles and increased likelihood of osteoporosis or having fertility problems. This hormonal disruption can lead to a never-ending cycle where women grind only more in order to keep body fat low in effect, creating more issues.
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Insulin: This is another hormone that can get impaired by both excessive dieting and ultra low body fat, and it too affects blood sugar levels. Chronically low energy availability can make the body resistant to insulin which is also associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This circumstance is so ironic because what low body fat is supposed to make you look like, people end up looking the exact opposite when they try and achieve those aesthetic goals.
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Your Cortisol: The stress hormone of the body,general up in those who calorie restriction and also kill themselves n weighty duty workouts. High cortisol levels can cause excesses body fat storage, particularly in the abdominal region and can also affect sleep patterns, mood & even immune function. This paradox demonstrates that the quest for a thin body may be self-punishing, thus causing people to gain exactly the things they want out of.
The Psychological Toll
In addition to the impacts on physiology, this relentless quest for lower body fat is incredibly detrimental to mental health. The relentless marketing campaigns and social norms around how we should look can result in horrible things like body dysmorphia, anxiety and depression. The latter can cause so many of those other problems such as insulin resistance, adrenal dysfunction, and chronic inflammation which help fuel the weight cycle with years of starving on diets only to binge then guilting yourself back onto yet another diet.
Finding Balance
How do we stop doing that? Because establishing a new perception of ‘healthy’ is crucial. Stop focusing on numbers and fixate on well-being instead of how many pounds or percent body fay you currently have. How to Create a Healthier Hormonal Balance
Eat Moderately: rather than going to extremes and eating only one kind of food barrage into your nutrition. So have a sustainable caloric intake that supports your body.
— Strength Training is Key: For that reason alone, building muscle through strength training is essential in balancing hormones like testosterone and insulin.
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Tune into Your Body: Be mindful of your hunger, fluid needs, and energy changes. Let your body rest if you are feeling tired or rundown
– Ask a Professional: Talk to a healthcare provider or hormone health nutritionist like me to customize the plan that works for you.
Conclusion
This low body fat obsession is more than just a fitness trend, it's a mindset that can negatively impact our hormonal health and overall well-being. Therefore, if we no longer care about getting the perfect body but instead focus on leading a life which is in harmony with our hormonal rhythms then by default it will not only feed the roots of our hormones it; support our health as a natural consequence. Having a holistic approach to fitness will help you develop lifelong health and get rid of those negative emotions regarding your body. In the end, health is much more than how we look in front of the mirror; it is about feeling good inside and out.