Health Tips: Today’s rapidly changing lifestyle is having a profound effect on health, due to which hormonal problems are being seen more in people in the last few years. Actually, stress, poor diet and excessive use of digital screens disturb our hormonal balance. Hormones control many functions in our body, such as metabolism, sleep, reproduction and mental health.
But due to today’s busy lifestyle and bad habits, the imbalance of these hormones is becoming common. The result is fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, mood swings and other health problems. Ignoring these problems can lead to serious diseases in the future. Therefore, it is important that we pay attention to our lifestyle and take steps that help keep our hormones balanced. In this article, Dr. Rajeshwari Panda, HOD, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicover Hospital, talks about 5 habits that harm hormones.
Habits that harm hormones
1). Consuming sugar after meals
Nowadays you must have seen many people who eat sweets immediately after meals. This habit can disturb the balance of hormones. Actually, when you consume sugar after meals, it suddenly increases the insulin level of your body. Insulin is an essential hormone that controls blood sugar levels. A sudden increase in insulin levels can disturb the balance of other hormones in the body, increasing the risk of diseases like weight gain, skin problems and diabetes.
2). Use the phone before sleeping
Using mobile phones or other electronic devices before sleeping is a common habit nowadays but do you know that it has a direct effect on your hormones. Melatonin is the hormone that controls our sleep and wakefulness. The light of the phone reduces the secretion of melatonin, which affects the quality of sleep. Maintaining the habit of using mobile phones before sleeping can cause problems like insomnia, stress and hormonal imbalance. To break this habit, stop using the phone at least 1 hour before sleeping and practice reading a book or meditating.
3). Consuming caffeine at night
Consuming tea, coffee or other caffeinated beverages at night can be harmful to both your sleep and hormones. Caffeine can increase cortisol levels in the body. Elevated cortisol increases stress levels in the body, which can lead to problems like sleep deprivation, anxiety and other hormonal imbalances. Avoid caffeine at night and try drinking herbal tea or warm milk instead, which can help improve sleep.
4). Consuming carbohydrates on an empty stomach
Consuming carbohydrate-rich foods on an empty stomach can be harmful to your hormonal balance. When you consume carbohydrates on an empty stomach, it causes a sudden increase in insulin levels, which affects the body’s metabolism. This increases hunger and increases the risk of weight gain.
5). Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety have become a common problem in today’s lifestyle, but its effect on our hormones can be serious. During times of stress, the body’s production of cortisol hormone increases, which can weaken the body’s immune system. Additionally, prolonged stress can also disrupt the balance of other hormones, leading to fatigue, irritability and other health problems.
