For the most of it, it is as easy as it sounds. You eat more and you gain weight but sometimes things are not as easy as they seem. You could put on weight but it wouldn’t be related to your eating pattern. Your body could be playing whole another game that makes it look broader than it is.
So what could be the factors? Some people believe hormones can do this. But can they? This article will discuss the effects of high aldosterone on your weight gain. It will also elaborate on the causes of why it might be doing so and how you could control it.
What is aldosterone? What are its uses?
Aldosterone is produced in the adrenal glands. Finding its location near the kidneys, it makes itself into a class of hormones like mineralocorticoids and these have a wide range of uses. It includes:
1. Retention of sodium
Its primary function involves the absorption of any traces of sodium from the urine. It does so to preserve sodium to be used in other physiological processes and conserve it as a whole.
2. Potassium excretion
Excreting Potassium is also one of the main processes that the hormone engages in. But why do so? That is because an excess of Potassium can lead to it storing up in muscles and nerves.
3. Water retention
You know how important water is for our body and it cannot be wasted in any form. So when the waste moves to the excretory system, it tries to reabsorb the water content for the body to function smoothly.
4. Blood pressure regulation
Blood pressure is the force with which blood gushes in and out of the heart valves. Sodium is one element that can affect this flow and when aldosterone maintains it, it can avoid heart diseases as well.
Does high Aldosterone cause weight gain?
The answer would be yes in a way. Aldosterone doesn’t meddle with your calorie count or your carbohydrate consumption. It doesn’t regulate the fat content in your body as well.
So then how can it cause weight gain? The answer is simple. It does this by adding fluid weight. This means:
1. Fluid retention
Aldosterone is a part of your circulatory system, ergo kidneys. They have the onus of filtering your blood and other nutrients before passing it down to the eliminatory system.
So when there is Sodium or water in the waste that comes processed from the small intestine, it is usual that the kidney tries to absorb as much sodium content as it can. As sodium can also attract water, water retention increases, and your body may gain weight that way.
2. Edema
Now when the Sodium is absorbed, water follows. As it amount increases it may run out of space and seep into your body tissues. This may lead to the formation of swollen patches in various parts of the body. This can be another reason why Adolsterone increases your weight.
3. Increased blood volume
The release of Antiduertuc hormone by Aldosterone can also lead to water retention. This means that even when you are in a calorie deficit your body might show a weight gain thanks to the water in the tissues and lower belly as well.
So does this mean that you could rely on the numbers Aldoseteone gives you? The answer would be now. It cannot affect your stamina or potential in any way as the gain is all about water content and not muscles or mass. Putting weight this way might not give you the body of your dreams.
This also means it cannot be helpful for people trying to put on weight while for those trying to shed, this one does show up on the scale. Now how can you solve this problem? There might be a way or two!
How to control high levels of aldosterone in your body?
Your first respite might just be a doctor who will tell you what is wrong with your body. If it’s retaining water in unbelievable amounts, chances are the case is complicated. Secondly, you can opt to take medications that might help you regulate the aldosterone levels. However, you should bonnet self-medicate in any way and let the doctor decide the dosage.
Thirdly, you can bring about some dietary changes in your routine. Reduce eating processed foods or one that comes in packets. It is usually high in Sodium and can cause more water retention than normal. Additionally, some people might replace food with water when on a diet.
This is not a good approach as this is exactly what causes fluid retention. You should not be dehydrated but over-hydration is also not good for your body. Moreover, your daily schedule should also include daily exercise routines that can help evaporate water as sweat.
Besides, physical activity can also positively affect the circulatory system. Researchers are also of the opinion that if a person is stressed their hormonal release could go haywire. Furthermore, this leads to an increase in stress eating and a larger retention of fluids. So it is important to keep your mind regulated with yoga and other meditational activities.
Lastly, managing your weight in a regulated manner could be the answer to water retention problems. You should consult a dietitian to find out how and why weight gain has become an issue for you because of unwanted water retention.
Sum Up
High levels of Aldosterone can cause weight gain. This is due to its function that includes retaining Sodium and water content. As these two increase, there is a chance that your weight might also gain. However, this is not healthy in any way, It could be particularly difficult for those on a quest to lose significant amounts of weight.
That is where you have to resort to steps that can help alleviate the condition. This could be hormone control, diet control, or even medication prescribed by your health care worker. While anything is good in excess it could affect our health adversely.
References
- National Institute Of Health(2023) Physiology, Aldosterone Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470339/
- Medline Plus(2023) Aldosterone Test Available online at: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/aldosterone-test/
