Hormones

• There are a number of causes for an increase in belly fat for men and women. Hormones are a significant problem and can prevent the breakdown of fats. It can also increase the amount of insulin in your body, making it extremely difficult to lose weight. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your waist line.
  
  A hormone imbalance adds fat to your belly. There are a number of different types of hormones that effect belly fat. A rise in estrogen levels in women--and a similar hormone called androgens in men--cause belly fat. Insulin is another hormone that, if uncontrolled, will cause an increase in belly fat.
  
  The result of an increase in eating refined carbohydrates is the increase in blood sugar. This leads to an insulin resistance. Elevated insulin production leads to the production of more estrogen. This creates an increase in belly fat.
  
  Estrogen promotes body fat storage and increases the size of fatty tissues. An imbalance of estrogen levels increases belly fat. This occurs because it does not breakdown fats around the waist. Our environment and diet is flooded with estrogen compounds.
  
  

Foods to Avoid

• Changing your diet may help regulate estrogen levels in the body. Dairy and meat products increase estrogen levels. These products contain hormones themselves through the feeding of the animals to fatten them up. Once they have entered the body, the chemicals work the same as estrogen.
  
  

Reduce the Fat

• The best way to reduce estrogen in the body--and thereby reduce the fat--is by eating more leafy vegetables. Particular vegetables help the liver metabolize estrogen quickly. You must eat about a cup a day of brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach or broccoli. These veggies can be lightly steamed to keep the nutritional value. Also, reduce the consumption of sugary foods.