How does estradiol affect our bodies?

Research confirms that the estrogen hormone estradiol helps the heart muscles to strengthen and the heart to work more actively. What other muscle groups and organs does estradiol affect and how does this affect our body movements and weight?

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How does estradiol affect the body's functions?

Estradiol (at normal levels in the body) affects not only the cardiovascular system, but also smooth muscles. These muscles are part of the bladder and intestines. That is, the work of these organs also depends on the amount of estradiol in the blood.

This hormone also controls the work of skeletal muscles. It improves our mobility, increases the strength of bone tissue. Research in sports centers shows that if a woman controls the level of estradiol in the blood during menopause, she will have a stronger skeleton and will not be prone to fractures.

How does estradiol affect muscle function?

Thanks to estradiol, the strength of muscle contraction improves, and this makes women more athletic and fit. If estradiol affects the strength of contraction, then it also affects the ability to relax more quickly.

This enables a woman to relate more calmly to stressful situations, to resist stress. This means that fatigue decreases and working capacity increases. With the active influence of estradiol, weight does not increase, it remains normal.

The results of the study of the effect of estradiol on muscle work showed astonishing results. Scientists from the American Institute of the State of Colorado found that the strength of the hand squeeze in those women who replenished their estradiol reserves during menopause was higher than in women who did not take hormones.

Estrogens and sports

And if estradiol is taken in combination with exercise, the effect is even greater. The strongest results in the study were found in women who used hormone replacement therapy and exercised on exercise machines.

Scientists Kyllonen and Jensen, at different times conducting experiments with hormones, found that taking estrogens in combination with aerobic exercise improves the figure, increases muscle mass, and reduces the amount of fat on the waist and hips.

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Estrogens and weight

True, the weight did not jump left or right, remaining unchanged. Scientists have found out why. Fat tissue is 6 times lighter than muscle tissue. And when there is less fat in the body and more muscle tissue, a substitution occurs. And the weight remains at the same level.

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What else does estrogen affect?

In addition to the fact that muscles become stronger, strength increases, fatigue decreases. But, in addition to this, bone tissue also becomes stronger. But this effect is observed only in the case of combining physical activity and hormone therapy. When a woman does not take hormones while doing sports, bone tissue strengthens much more slowly.

The peculiarity of the study is that women prone to obesity benefit more from hormone therapy. The fact is that those women who have more muscle tissue and fat have a more active hormone metabolism.

This is explained simply: the more fat and muscle tissue, the more estrogens they contain. This means that estrogen metabolism is more active. Plus, the bones and muscles of women prone to obesity become stronger than those of their thin peers. But after hormone therapy, obese women tend to gain more weight or simply not lose it, remaining in the same weight category.

Estrogens and the menstrual cycle

Hormones during menstruation can also affect weight and body movements, as well as muscle strength. And their ability to contract. This is proven by the research of Dr. Phillips, conducted in 1993. A group of patients from 20 to 30 years old during ovulation noted muscle strength that increased several times.

Let us explain: during ovulation, the level of the hormone estradiol in the body increases significantly, patients get a chance to strengthen their body. If you also do sports at this time, the volume of muscles increases significantly, and the amount of fatty tissue decreases.

As for the period of menstruation itself, that is, the time when a woman bleeds, the hormone progesterone suppresses the level of estradiol. And then muscle strength is lost, the woman feels weak, she may have sudden mood swings, increased fatigue.

Dr. Sauer's experiments in 1996 showed that such fatigue and changes in the strength of contractions were especially observed in the area of the thighs and forearms. Moreover, even hormonal therapy did not give any special results in this case. Nature has provided this time period for women to rest, and not for active activity.

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Features of estradiol action

Research shows that when the level of the hormone estradiol in the body drops, there is less muscle tissue. That is, a woman looks thinner, her skin is saggier. But when the level of estradiol in the blood is restored, then muscle mass is also restored to normal. As is weight.

Scientific research has also shown that estradiol has a direct effect on muscles. Thanks to its presence, muscles are protected from the effects of free radicals (ageing substances). This is especially valuable during periods of active physical activity (swimming, aerobics, fitness, running).

Scientists have concluded that when we lose estradiol, muscles are more prone to breaking down and becoming flabbier. In addition, they cannot even recover until a person's estradiol levels are restored.

Know: for muscles to develop normally, they need more calories than other tissues. When we lose muscle mass, fats are no longer burned as effectively, and a person can gain weight. In order for both muscles to be good, strong, and fats to be burned more actively, it is important to take the right hormones and exercise.

What is your level of estrogen in the body, in particular estradiol, can be determined using hormone tests. See an endocrinologist in time and be healthy! How do estrogens affect metabolism?

Studies of the effects of estrogens on the body show that during menopause, irreversible changes occur in the body. And estrogens help improve many processes, including the activation of metabolism. How does this happen?

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Potassium is lost during menopause

This was proven by research by American scientists in 1991. When a woman enters menopause, the level of potassium in the body becomes much lower, and these losses are irreversible. Why does potassium become lower? Because the level of estradiol, a hormone from the estrogen group, is lost. And because of this, potassium production is suppressed.

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Effect of estradiol on muscle and bone development

Because of this, muscles may develop poorly, become flabby and flaccid. In addition, if you want to replenish the body's supply of useful substances, due to the low level of estradiol, they will be poorly absorbed. These are substances such as magnesium, potassium and zinc, vital for the functioning of internal organs.

Estradiol helps these substances to be absorbed, and its absence or small doses – on the contrary. Without potassium, magnesium and zinc, the body's metabolism will be sluggish, slow, and then fats will accumulate. Poor metabolism also slows down the strength and density of bone tissue, and also negatively affects the work and development of muscles.

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Effect of estradiol on cholesterol levels

Cholesterol can be bad and good. The first has a negative effect on the body, the second - positive. If the level of estradiol in the blood is high, then the level of good cholesterol also increases, and the level of bad cholesterol decreases. And vice versa: a low level of estradiol provokes the activity of bad cholesterol, and as a result - various diseases.

Research shows that doctors observe bad cholesterol in those patients who suffer from obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to check the blood for cholesterol levels once a year and undergo hormonal tests. This will allow you to replenish the estradiol level in time and normalize the functioning of the entire body.

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The effect of estradiol on blood

When there is not enough estradiol in the blood, the level of fats in the blood cells increases, especially in obese women. As a result, such women are at greater risk of developing diabetes, since their blood sugar levels also increase.

A good, normal level of estradiol in the blood reduces blood fat, as well as thrombus formation. If you increase the level of estradiol to normal, you will avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

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Estradiol and Healthy Sleep

Have you noticed that sometimes you sleep poorly, and even sleeping pills can do little to help? Hormones may be the culprits of this unpleasant, exhausting condition. If there is not enough estradiol in the blood – a sex hormone from the estrogen group – a person cannot fully rest in sleep. Even his growth slows down significantly for this reason.

The body produces more progesterone, and this hormone has the ability to suppress the production of growth hormones. But what does excess weight have to do with it?

The thing is that growth hormone directly affects how muscles grow and whether excess fat tissue accumulates. If there is enough growth hormone in the body, then there will be no problems with muscle growth and elasticity.

In overweight women, the production of growth hormone in the body is slow. That is why fat tissue accumulates, and muscle tissue does not develop. On the contrary, it is lost, then the muscles become flaccid and unruly.

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Menopause and growth hormone

When a woman begins the period before menopause, her hormonal background changes dramatically. There is less estradiol in the body, and this reduces the level of growth hormone. And then an interesting situation arises: no matter how much you exercise and what kind of loads you give yourself, muscle mass will not grow.

The bones will still remain weak and the muscles will be flabby. That is, sports without the necessary hormones will not bring any results.

According to some information, testosterone increases muscle mass in both sexes. But in fact, normal muscle function can also be supported by the female hormone estradiol. Thanks to it, muscle mass increases, and excess fat is burned. This is provided that you exercise.

In addition, thanks to estradiol, the functioning of the entire body is improved, and not just its individual functions.

Increase your hormone levels in time and stay healthy. How does estradiol affect your mood?

To make sure that our appetite doesn't torment us so much and we have the opportunity to burn fat, we try to increase the amount of serotonin in the body. Why and how can hormones affect our mood? In particular, hormones from the estrogen group.

Serotonin and our weight

Scientific research that lasted for more than three decades showed interesting results. A reduced level of serotonin in human blood leads to excess weight. In addition, a lack of serotonin leads to a decrease in mood, tearfulness, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. And a person with a reduced level of serotonin begins to feel the slightest pain strongly. He may have problems with the digestive tract, absorption, and digestion of food.

The psyche also changes: obsessive ideas may appear, sleep is disturbed, the mood may be so bad that the person does not want anything.

Why do such conditions arise?

Every year a person's serotonin level may decrease. If you do not monitor it, of course, and do not take the necessary hormones as recommended by a doctor. A decrease in serotonin levels is also provoked by constant stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, constant alcohol consumption, uncontrolled use of medications, especially tranquilizers.

Allergy medications that a person takes constantly and in high doses can also reduce serotonin production. Smoking has the same negative effect on serotonin production. Smokers suffer from mood swings more often than other people.

At-risk groups

Women aged 45 to 49 are at risk among victims of hormonal imbalance. In this category of women, excess weight and depressive states due to hormonal changes can manifest themselves especially clearly. Their estradiol levels drop much lower than they were before.

In the pre-menopausal state, women experience dramatic changes in mood and well-being. They find it difficult to control themselves. Women admit that they feel like they are on a roller coaster, and this is frightening.

How does a woman's body change during menopause?

Just think: a woman's body can gain weight during this period, and her feelings can change. A woman can feel hot and cold. Her mood can also change from a feeling of deep happiness to an equally strong depression.

It is important not to miss this moment and be sure to consult a doctor about hormone replacement therapy.

How do hormones affect brain function?

If there is enough estradiol in the body, it can affect the work of other hormones that the brain produces. This directly affects mood swings. So, there is an effect of estradiol on endorphins, hormones vasopressin, oxytocin and vasopressin.

This increases appetite, while slowing down metabolism. And the woman inevitably gains weight. In addition, due to the active effect of hormones on the brain centers, the mechanism that allows you to control appetite is disrupted.

A woman can no longer regulate her weight. This frightens and irritates her. But you just need to control your hormone levels by taking hormonal tests.

Estradiol and endorphins

These hormones have a particularly strong effect on the body of pregnant women. Most of all - in the last weeks. Then there are quite a lot of endorphins, as well as estradiol, in the body of the expectant mother, more than the norm.

This is good because the appetite is no longer so brutal, since endorphins have the property of reducing it.

But when a woman gives birth, the level of endorphin in the blood drops significantly. This means that a woman's mood can drop significantly - right down to a critical level. This is why postpartum depression occurs so often in women.

It's all about hormones, not life's troubles. This state can be compared to stopping taking drugs. At first, the woman was happy, and then this source was taken away from her - the amount of endorphins dropped sharply.

Of course, the woman reacts with tearfulness, bouts of aggression, then apathy, suffers from hot flashes, worries, and suffers from stomach ailments.

This ends not only with mental disorders, but also with physical changes. It is very difficult for a woman to lose weight unless she replenishes the lack of endorphins. This can be done by taking hormones prescribed by a doctor, in combination with exercise.

See a gynecologist and endocrinologist in time and be healthy.

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