HORMONES play a major role in our well being and how we age.

Hormones are simply chemical messengers that are released in one part of the body and have an effect in another part of the body.

You have over 200 hormones (that we know of) in your body.

Either a deficiency, excess or an imbalance can cause accelerated aging.

1. Loss of Leptin Sensitivity: This is an important hormone and when we lose sensitivity to this hormone and become resistant, it causes hunger and inhibits the release of stored fat from the fat cells to be used as energy.

2. Low Adiponectin: This is an important hormone and when it is low it increases fat storage in fat cells and inhibits insulin (fat storing hormone) sensitivity.

3. Low Vitamin D level: this is an important hormone and when the level is low it is associated with increased inflammation and insulin insensitivity.

This hormone is perhaps one of the most important ones that we can optimize for greatest prevention of lifestyle related diseases.

4. High Cortisol: this is an important hormone- the stress hormone- and when it is high it contributes to increased appetite, insulin resistance and body fat that is stored around the middle.

This hormone is released when our internal alarm system goes off. You can keep this hormone in good range by not responding to everything that happens to you in your life as an emergency.

Remember that staying calm is the highest achievement of the self.

5.High Fasting Insulin: this hormone is the fat storing hormone. When it is high, it does not allow the body to release stored body fat and it increases appetite.

6.Low Testosterone in Men and/or conversion of testosterone to Estrogen: When this hormone is low in men, it contributes to excess body fat being stored in the abdominal area.When testosterone is converted to estrogen it causes body fat to be stored in areas like the chest and the abdomen.

7. Estrogen/Progesterone Deficiency/Imbalance in Women: when these hormones are not in balance in the body, it contributes to fat storage in the waist and hips in women.

8. Low Thyroid Hormone: when the thyroid- the gland of metabolism- is not functioning optimally- it contributes to low metabolism and a storage of calories in the form of fat.

9. Low Serotonin: This is an important neurotransmitter- feel good hormone- and when it is low it causes carbohydrate binging.

10. Insomnia/ insufficient sleep: this wreaks havoc on many hormones during the night that contributes to hunger and insulin resistance during the day.

11. Decreased physical activity: this slows down your metabolic rate ( the rate at which you burn calories) and worsens insulin sensitivity.

12. Elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP): this is a measure of silent, chronic inflammation. It binds to leptin( a hormone) and neutralizes leptin's anti-obesity effects in the body.

13. Excess calorie intake: when you take in too many calories at once, insulin (fat storing hormone) is released and those extra calories are stored as body fat.

14. Medication- antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-epileptics, corticosteroids, sulfonylureas, and beta blockers- are all associated with insulin resistance and weight gain.

15. Insufficient Fiber intake: fiber slows down the absorption of sugar in the blood stream. When you don't eat enough fiber, it allows a rapid rise in your blood sugar after you eat and this causes blood sugar to stay high and insulin (fat storing hormone) to stay high.

16. Poor dietary choices: making the wrong choices about the foods and drinks that fuel your body can result in too much sugar constantly being in the blood stream and an increase in insulin (fat storing hormone) that ultimately results in insulin resistance (insulin staying high all the time).

17. High levels of toxins: toxins are stored in body fat. It is a protective mechanism.

Detoxify your liver.

Toxins from food and the environment can make you fat.

Toxins may come in the form of medication, bacteria, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals such as mercury.

These pollutants can damage or block the signals that control your appetite.

You can detoxify your body with the right balance of protein, fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phyto-nutrients found in plant foods.

The supplement- milk thistle-silymarin- is particularly helpful in liver detoxification.

Chlorella, a single cell algae, is important in overall body detoxification from heavy metals.

18. Psychological dysfunction: Binge eating, depression, anxiety- these all can lead to emotional eating and weight gain.

19. Excess amylase and lipase- these are both enzymes that help to break down carbs and when they are in excess can lead to sugars being rapidly absorbed.

20. Excess glucosidase- this digestive enzyme in excess facilitates conversion of ingested carbohydrates into blood sugar.