| 19 September 2010
Alright guys, this article is for you. So you feel like you are working out regularly, eating right and getting plenty of rest, yet you are not able to get rid of that fat around your waist. A hormone imbalance may be the culprit. The common denominator in most situations is stress. There is a stress hormone called Cortisol that when elevated can cause increase fat distribution around your waist. Testosterone levels also tend to fall as we age. These two things are a lethal combination for guys when it comes to staying fit.
Male adrenal fatigue and stress go hand in hand. The adrenal glands, which are two triangle-shaped glands found above the kidneys, are responsible for regulating a man’s reaction to stress. The chief adrenal hormone used to manage stress is cortisol. The adrenal glands emit cortisol in response to stress, low blood sugar, excitement, and during exercise. Under normal circumstances, the adrenal glands emit the highest amount of cortisol within the first hours of waking and slowly decrease production as the day progresses. When stress is not properly managed or when it becomes extreme, the ability for the adrenal glands to function optimally is compromised.
What is Male Adrenal Fatigue?
If a man’s stress level remains excessive for a prolonged length of time, the adrenal glands respond by producing the adrenal hormone cortisol continually. This over-exertion taxes the adrenal glands to the point where the glands are unable to produce the necessary levels of cortisol to keep up with the demand; and subsequently these drastically diminished levels of cortisol eventually lead to adrenal fatigue in men. This hormone imbalance induced fatigue affects all the other hormones in the body, producing a chain-like reaction.
While attempting to maintain high cortisol production to manage the chronic stress levels, the adrenal glands are unable to maintain the production of other necessary hormones. One such hormone, referred to as DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone, is developed from progesterone. DHEA is vital to maintaining the balance of hormones in your body and low amounts of this important hormone contribute to male adrenal fatigue symptoms.
Andropause: The Male Menopause
The Facts: Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen, giving the condition its name. When men get into their early 30s, they begin losing testosterone at a rate of one to two percent a year. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone levels in most 70 year old men were 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55 they can begin experiencing symptoms of andropause.
GET TESTED
At South West Health, we use special saliva testing to assess hormone levels in our patients. The test is very simple and involves collecting saliva at four times during the day and sending it in to the lab for analysis. Once we have your results, we can make supplement recommendations based on the imbalances the test uncovers. In many cases, adrenal fatigue is a major contributing factor to the hormone imbalance. Balancing the adrenals may the key to ridding yourself of that unwanted fat around your waist. If you are not happy with your gut, then its time to get your hormones evaluated and see if you are fighting an uphill battle. Contact us for more information to get started today.
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South West Health
Great information you have here. I really appreciate this perspective on how to help people lose weight.
Would love your insights on this article I wrote http://costamesa-chiropractors...ht-cancer/
Thanks in advance,
Dr. Jeff Millan