“I can’t lose weight because my hormones are out of whack.” I have heard this sentiment from countless female clients. Women suffering from fatty liver, prediabetes, high cholesterol, gallbladder problems, and depression feel powerless in their struggle to lose weight and feel healthy.

Hormonal imbalance has long been to blame for unexplained weight gain. As we age, many factors can upset the delicate balance between our hormones.

Why is it then, after addressing these factors, some of us still have difficulty losing weight?

Why Hormones Need to Be Reset

It’s simple. Every hormone is a key that must turn a lock in order to be effective. These “locks” are called receptor sites. Inflammation—from a variety of seemingly unrelated factors—can alter the shape of our receptors, making our hormonal “keys” ineffective.

Here are the hidden sources that can clog up receptor sites and “gum up” your system:

• Constant exposure to xenoestrogens (estrogen mimics) in our diet, environment, and even our personal care products.
• Sugar, alcohol and caffeine intake (coffee, black tea, green tea, and white tea).
• High fructose intake (even from natural foods like unsweetened applesauce and tomatoes).
• Stress, EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) and sleep deprivation.
• “Grain Drain” from wheat, rye, barley, and corn based products (which are usually genetically modified, to add insult to injury).
• Meat, dairy and eggs from animals treated with growth hormones

Your Personal Hormone Tune-Up

By making a few tweaks in your daily routine you can easily re-shape your receptors for a personal hormone tune-up, resulting in lasting weight control and well-being.

Estrogen is the ultimate hormone magnet for sodium and fat. When out of balance with its sister hormone progesterone, estrogen dominance creates an increase in water retention, migraines, memory lapses, and will promote fat storage around hips and thighs. It can even accelerate aging!

• Topical Progesterone crème can help offset estrogen dominance.
• Reduce copper-rich foods like chocolate, nuts and seeds, soy, avocados, and shell fish. Copper is closely associated with estrogen, so women using copper IUDs or birth control pills are at high risk for estrogen dominance.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove estrogen-mimicking pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
• Do not re-heat food in plastic containers, and choose a water bottle made of glass or stainless steel rather than plastic.
• Avoid personal care products that include endocrine disruptors like parabens and phthalates.
• Sweep away excess estrogen by using two tablespoons of lignan-rich toasted cold milled flaxseeds each day, sprinkled on your food or blended in smoothies.
• Season soup, stew, chili or other bean dishes with 2 to 3 cardamom seeds. Cardamom is a digestive aid with the unique ability to cleanse and detoxify the liver, which is essential for hormone balancing.
• Optimize estrogen metabolism by supplementing with DIM (diindolylmethane). Take 100 mg twice daily with meals.

Tune-Up Tricks for Clean Insulin Receptors

Insulin levels skyrocket with excessive intake of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. Meals that are not properly balanced with blood sugar-stabilizing protein and fat also spike insulin, overwhelming receptor sites and triggering fat storage. When receptors are blocked or already saturated, insulin resistance occurs, giving rise to metabolic syndrome and contributing to high blood sugar and elevated triglycerides.

If weight gain, cravings for sugar, intense hunger, feeling frequently hungry, difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious or panicky, lacking focus or motivation, fatigue are your major symptoms, then it is time to clean up your insulin receptor sites.

• Sip on a glass of water with 1 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar during each meal. The acidity of ACV slows the digestion of carbohydrates and can lower blood sugar by as much as 30 percent!
• Enjoy hot lemon water first thing in the morning in place of one of your cups of coffee. Coffee consumption while fasting is associated with increased fasting insulin concentration and decreased insulin sensitivity, as determined by The American Diabetes Association.
• Supplement with 400 micrograms (mcg) chromium, which is a key mineral for blood sugar regulation and is commonly deficient in our diet.
• Use stevia in place of sugar in beverages, smoothies, and baking. Stevia is a naturally sweet-tasting herb that does not cause an increase in blood sugar.
• Season your food liberally with cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and coriander—which are all proven to help your body metabolize sugar.

Tune-Up Tricks for Clean Leptin Receptors

Leptin is the hormone of satiety. If you never feel satisfied after a meal, then clogged leptin receptors is likely your problem. Levels soar when you’re eating high amounts of fructose and not enough essential and healthy fats. Receptors are never able clear out.

• Avoid foods high in fructose, which stimulate the appetite. Obvious offenders are processed foods and drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup. Less obvious are natural foods like tomatoes, unsweetened apple sauce, and agave. Fat free salad dressings, ketchup and barbeque sauces pack an unsuspected punch as well.
• Eat protein within 30 minutes of waking. Enjoy a plant-based protein smoothie as a clinically proven way of clearing out leptin receptors and promoting satiety.
• Reactivate leptin receptor sensitivity by including omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 in your diet. Black currant seed oil offers an unparalleled combination of these essential fats that increase metabolism, fight inflammation, and add luster to hair, skin, and fingernails.

Tune-Up Tricks for Clean Cortisol Receptors

Fat-promoting cortisol is activated by stress, EMF exposure, and sleep deprivation. Just one night of poor sleep can raise cortisol by 45 percent! A stressful conversation at work is enough to overload cortisol receptors within minutes, and 24/7 use of wireless devices add insult to injury by ramping up cortisol production, with the creation of over 20 heat-shock proteins. Excess circulating cortisol is responsible for weight gain around the midsection, low immunity, salt and sugar cravings, tissue destruction and inflammation—all of which begin a vicious cycle that can quickly lead to adrenal burnout.

• Treat yourself with coffee whipped up with 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and vanilla whey protein. Black coffee on an empty stomach tanks blood sugar, which sends cortisol levels through the roof. Blending with a little healthy fat and protein, however, can prevent the cortisol spike.
• Practice yoga and meditation. These stress-relieving activities are proven to lower cortisol.
• Put down electronics one hour before bed. EMFs affect the body on a biological level, raising cortisol. To wind down and promote restful sleep, disable your wireless router, switch mobile devices into airplane mode, and read a book instead of watching TV.

Tune-Up Tricks for Clean Thyroid Hormone Receptors

Your thyroid is a key metabolic driver. When it is under-active, you’ll be experiencing fatigue, joint pain, depression, impaired memory, constipation, cold hands and feet, dry skin, hair loss, and weak fingernails.

• Go grain free. Many grains contain gluten, which is a type of protein that looks so similar to thyroid hormone that it can actually trick our bodies into producing less of this critical hormone. Eliminate gluten containing grains from your diet to naturally reset thyroid hormone production. Wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, couscous, oats, triticale, and barley should be avoided. Gluten-free alternatives are millet, brown or wild rice, taro, teff, buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth. Instead of flour, consider using arrowroot or tapioca for thickening.
• Cook with coconut oil. This healthy fat is a rich source of medium chain fatty acids that improve the efficiency of your thyroid and boost metabolism by 56 percent!
• Get tested. Ask your doctor to order a comprehensive thyroid test that evaluates TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. Keep in mind that “normal” values for these hormones are not always the optimal level for your unique biochemistry. I like to see T3 at the upper quarter of the normal range.

Tune-Up Tricks for Clean HGH Receptors

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is not only a key player adolescent development, it plays a crucial role in bone remodeling, cardiovascular protection, and body composition as we age. Too bad that once you turn 40, HGH production decreases by 14 percent every decade! The issue is further complicated by exogenous sources of HGH in meat, dairy, and eggs treated with growth hormone rBST. This unnatural hormone exposure can fool our bodies into producing less of our own bioavailable HGH. Symptoms of low HGH include muscle loss, high body fat percentage, anxiety, depression, low libido, and high blood pressure.

• Eat Montmorency tart cherries, a naturally rich source of melatonin. Italian researchers discovered a 157 percent increase in HGH levels when study participants took 5 mg of melatonin at night before bed. I encourage my clients to sip on ¼ cup tart cherry juice diluted with 1 cup of water between 7 pm and 9 pm.
• Adopt an interval training exercise program. Alternate short periods of high intensity activity with longer periods of low to moderately intense activity for a surefire way to increase HGH production by more than 500 percent!
• Ground yourself. The revolutionary Earthing technology naturally raises melatonin levels while simultaneously lowering cortisol and eliminating inflammation.
• Eliminate dairy. While most milk labels assure that cows were not treated with rBST, many other dairy products are not able to make this claim—think butter, sour cream, cheese, yogurt, coffee creamer, etc. Keep the synthetic HGH out of your diet!
• Choose only organic meat and eggs. USDA organic standards prevent the use of growth hormone in animals.

The Daily Detox

Fat stores more than just excess weight—toxins of all types are stored in fat, too. Heavy metals, chemicals, drug residues, and excess hormones are sequestered in our fat cells as a method of protection, so as we burn fat and lose weight many toxins are released into circulation in our bodies.

Since we can’t just let those toxins circulate, it’s crucial to have tried-and-true detoxifiers to bind with and eliminate these dangerous compounds. Incorporate as many of the following finale “tune-ups” to ensure a thorough hormone and weight loss makeover!

• Soak in a luxurious detox bath once or twice per week. Add 2 cups baking soda and 2 cups sea salt to a hot bath and relax until that water cools. Towel off and do not rinse for 4 hours. The initial hot water brings toxins to the surface of the skin. As the water cools, osmosis draws toxins away from the heat of the body and into the cooling water. This is especially good to alleviate jet-lag and radiation-related fatigue.
• Cran-water and pure water are essential to keeping your lymph flowing, which is a main means of toxin removal.
• Fiber up with flax and chia seeds. Their soluble and insoluble fiber ensures toxins that are dumped into the digestive tract are bound and promptly eliminated. Flax and chia seeds are wonderfully detoxifying in this way, so try incorporating 2 to 4 tablespoons per day into your diet.
• Try activated charcoal, which uses the principle of absorption to soak up toxins in the stomach, like a sponge soaking up water.

Would you love to learn how to turn up your metabolism while tuning up your gallbladder? The great news is, I bet many (maybe even all) of these Fat Flushing powerhouses are probably already in your daily diet. They’re not only great for shedding those extra pounds, but they’re also critical for quality bile production, which we know is key for optimum health, fat digestion, and correcting “mystery” illnesses.

Read on to get the skinny about these fantastic 10—and do make sure they’re all on your next grocery list.

Fat-Flushing Foods and Spices

• Beets

  Beets contain betaine which thins the bile and helps prevent gallstones. Betaine is also a rich source of hydrochloric acid, which is critical for digestion and triggers your gallbladder to release bile. Beetroot protects your liver from chemical toxicity.

• Artichokes

  Artichokes are a fabulous bile-producing food and liver protector. They may boost your glutathione levels as much as 50 percent.

• Bitters

  Bitter foods trigger your pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes and your gallbladder to release bile. Although digestive bitters are particularly important if you’re vegan or vegetarian, they are really helpful for everyone, with or without a gallbladder.

  Bitter greens such as arugula, endive, dandelion and radicchio offer wonderful benefits—as well as horseradish, which is also anti-cancer. Orange peel, gentian root, bitter artichoke and Angelica root are also excellent bitters. Stay away from Swedish bitters, which typically contain herbal laxatives such as rhubarb and senna.

• Choline

  Choline is an essential nutrient that acts as an emulsifier, assists fat digestion, reduces cellulite, decongests the liver, improves nerve and brain function, and builds hormones. Ninety percent of us are choline deficient.

• Lecithin

  Lecithin is one of the primary emulsifying agents in bile, containing significant choline. Lecithin breaks down fats making them more digestible. Lecithin also helps keep your homocysteine levels low, thereby reducing your cardiovascular risk. Lecithin from non-GMO soy or sunflower seeds makes a great fat-flushing supplement.

• Apple Cider Vinegar

  I call apple cider vinegar a “miracle in a bottle!” ACV contains malic acid, which helps your body digest protein and thins the bile.

  Take one tablespoon of raw ACV in a glass of water before meals.

• Taurine

  Taurine is a key component of bile acids, made in the liver. Many are deficient, especially vegans and vegetarians, because taurine is derived from organ meats and other animal proteins. Taurine helps thin the bile, assists detoxification, improves lipids, and lowers the risk for obesity.

• Capsaicin

  Capsaicin will ignite your fat burning engine! Found in sweat-inducing foods and spices like cayenne, capsaicin stimulates metabolism by activating brown fat, as well as helping optimize your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

• Cumin

  The smoky-peppery spice cumin can boost your metabolic rate, promote weight loss, reduce body fat and LDL, and stimulate pancreatic enzymes. In one study, just one teaspoon of cumin increased weight loss by 50 percent. I use cumin in just about everything from soups to salad dressings to casseroles.

• Omega-7s

  Omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) is the amazing omega you might not yet know about. Omega-7 operates as a “lipokine”: a hormone-like molecule that optimizes energy utilization and storage in body tissues at very low concentrations. Omega-7s really shine when it comes to improving your blood glucose, insulin and lipid levels. Omega-7s will even help build collagen!

  Where do you find them? Macadamia nuts, sea buckthorn, and deep sea anchovies.

Further Reading

For even more superstar foods that you (and your family) will love, order a copy of The NEW Fat Flush Foods.

And, for tips on how to whip them up in delicious dishes, add The NEW Fat Flush Cookbook to your shopping cart, too.

Bon appétit!

When it comes to hunger and tummy fat, your hormones are key.

Similar to how the thyroid hormone controls metabolism and insulin is driven by excess carbohydrates, hunger and stress hormones affect your appetite and belly.

By resetting hormones, you will increase insulin sensitivity, stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce that fight or flight urge, and preserve more lean muscle mass while you fast track your weight loss.

Love that Leptin

Leptin is a long-term chemical messenger for your appetite. If you never feel quite satisfied after a meal, then your leptin is too low. High leptin levels are the ticket to speedy slimming and when this hormone is signaling correctly, it should decrease your appetite.

As a key appetite hormone, it would stand to reason that levels of leptin should be lower when you’re thin and higher when you’re overweight. So, you would think that overweight people would have less of an appetite, but this isn’t how it seems to work. People who are overweight and have high leptin levels somehow don’t get the signal to stop eating and stop storing fat. They develop a condition called leptin resistance, which is similar to insulin resistance, where the body is no longer sensitive to the appetite-decreasing effects of leptin.

Both leptin and insulin resistance are triggered by an excess of refined carbs, sugar—especially fructose (fruit sugar)—and not enough exercise or sleep and too much stress. Leptin resistance, however, is especially frustrating when it comes to long-lasting fat loss because it has a habit of actually increasing the level of visceral fat—the fat that is deep within the abdomen.

Leptin is balanced primarily by omega-3 fats, like fatty fish and fish oils. From a dietary standpoint, the essential fats from the omega-3 rich fish (salmon, sardines, anchovies, and mackerel) as well as EPA- and DHA-rich fish oil can stabilize leptin levels by helping to balance brain chemistry.

Since more than 60 percent of the brain is made from fat (primarily the ones that cannot be synthesized by the body, but must be eaten in the form of foods), I would say that these omega 3s are pretty darn important to trigger specific brain receptors which control leptin and ghrelin.

In terms of weight loss, in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, individuals who consumed fish oil and walked for 45 minutes three times a week lost up to 5 pounds more than the control group. Reams of research demonstrate how fish oil can make you thinner, soothe arthritis, improve focus, protect the eyes, balance blood sugar, and boost brainpower.

This week Lynn and Amy talk about FitTrim.