Healthy Habits: Happy Hormones, Slim Belly

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

I recently got to review Happy Hormones, Slim Belly, a diet book geared for women over 40 that works with hormones, not against them. The principle is that there's a link between seretonin and carb intake, meaning you can't eat too much sugar or you'll never lose weight, but you can't restrict it too much or hormones will get out of balance.

The book was easy to read, easy to follow, and informative without going too deep in the science. What I like about the plan is it's not too restrictive - it's very balanced. It also has a 2-5-2-5 cycle which makes it manageable.

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.

1) Why has the connection between hormones and weight often been overlooked?

Excerpt from page 8

The majority of dieting recommendations you hear are actually based on research with observations made solely on male subjects. Historically speaking, most scientific studies used only men as subjects because the human male is, as one expert said to me, “less complicated.”

This is a popular argument: It’s a hassle, some researchers say, to deal with raging hormones that fluctuate based on age and monthly cycles. Others argue that the female body is “constantly fluctuating” or “too complex” to deliver valid results in controlled studies. So, ironical- ly, it was the very fact that women are different that was used as an excuse to exclude them from studies! While it is true that women’s bodies are complex and unique, this is the exact reason that it’s essential to have scientific studies that focus specifically on the female gender. And, further, to find a true working weight-loss solution, research needs to address the different life stages of women as well—but most often this isn’t the case. 

In other words, hormones have been considered too complicated so diet creators just find it easier to ignore them.

2) Carbs are often seen as the "bad guy" - why are they so important?

Carbs provide a lift in serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter. Women over 40 naturally have lower serotonin and due to fluctuating hormones, they have fluctuating levels of serotonin. Carbs are important to supplement serotonin levels so that you can stick to a diet and not feel deprived. However, it all comes down to using carbs the right way. That is why you have to avoid them for 2 days (Slim Days). This allows you to eat carbs for 5 days without the negative impact on your waistline.

3) How does the quality of carbs and sugar we eat impact our diet?

Eating the right carbs/sugar is important because they do impact insulin, which causes weight gain. Healthier carbs, such as whole grains, provide more nutrients, fiber, and other health benefits. So you are not simply eating something processed and lacking all nutritional value; you are still getting important nutrients and health benefits. Again, it all comes down to how much you eat, how you eat them, when you eat them, etc.