Scale not budging? EMFs may be to blame.
They’re the silent pollutants in our environment, but their effects on our health are anything but.
In addition to the myriad of concerns that EMFs pose, one of the emerging threats these invisible electrical fields pose is to our metabolic health, and specifically—our waistline.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- How EMFs directly interfere with your metabolism
- Why your mobile phone may be pushing you to overeat
- The sneaky way that EMFs induce carb cravings
- The role of EMFs in sleep disturbance and stress tolerance
- One powerful step you can take to reduce EMF exposure and get that scale moving
5 Ways EMFs May Promote Weight Gain and Prevent Loss
#1 Mobile Phones Increase Food Intake
You read that right. Research shows that using a mobile phone may actually increase one’s drive for food, resulting in overeating, particularly carbohydrate-rich foods[1].
This may be partly due to the effect of EMFs on cerebral high-energy phosphate metabolism.
What is cerebral high-energy phosphate metabolism?
Simply put, it’s your brain’s ability to use energy. When this mechanism is impaired (as it can be in the presence of EMFs), your brain’s energy supply diminishes. As a result, research shows that your drive for food increases. In other words, your brain is hungry, so it sends signals to your body to eat.
And, of course, what’s the most efficient fuel source out there? Refined carbs. Therefore, using your mobile phone and bathing in EMFs drains your brain’s energy, leaving you hungry for carbs, which in turn, can make you gain weight.
The same research also suggests that mobile phone use may prevent weight loss, through the same mechanism.
Conversely, studies also show that food cravings greatly diminish when our brains receive optimal nutrient input[2].
The takeaway?
If you want to shed pounds, keep your mobile phone at a distance and try to limit your use.
#2 EMF Exposure In Utero May Increase Childhood Obesity Risk
Sadly, the rates of childhood obesity today are skyrocketing with approximately one in every five children in the U.S. presenting as obese[3].
What’s happening with our nation’s youth?
Research shows that one of the contributing factors to childhood obesity may be EMF exposure before these kids are even born. Specifically, one study found that in-utero exposure to high levels of EMFs is associated with a 69% increased risk of childhood obesity—that’s an alarming number[4].
What makes this research particularly compelling is that the study was conducted on women who were exposed to everyday sources of EMF like microwaves, wireless devices, and so on. In other words, the type of EMF that you and I are likely exposed to on a daily basis.
The study also found an increased risk for obesity aligned with increased EMF exposure—the more EMF, the higher the risk for obesity.
One of the study authors, Dr. De-Kun Li explained: “EMF exposure during pregnancy could impact the fetal development, including endocrine and metabolic systems, predisposing offspring to higher risk of obesity[5].”
#3 EMFs Directly Impact Metabolism
As Dr De-Kun Li hinted at above, it appears that EMFs may also directly impact human metabolism in addition to brain energy use.
One of the most frequently drawn conclusions around EMFs and their effect on metabolism is that these frequencies may lead to blood sugar imbalances.
In one study, researchers found that dirty electricity (electricity that deviates from its normal wavelength) could instigate blood sugar imbalances in sensitive individuals. Interestingly, the study showed that in an electromagnetically “clean” environment, people with diabetes require less insulin and have lower plasma glucose levels[6].
In animal studies, short-term exposure to mobile phone EMFs results in changes in brain energy metabolism (as we’ve discussed previously), changes in hormone levels (including insulin), and changes in antioxidant status[7].
Furthermore, other animal research shows that long term exposure to low-level EMFs can directly affect body weight, blood glucose, and fatty acid metabolism[8].
While we may not know the precise mechanisms by which EMF impacts our metabolism, what’s clear at this point is that there is a strong correlation between EMF, neurological function, and hormonal control.
#4 EMFs Disturb Sleep
Aside from the direct hits that EMFs seem to make on our metabolism, there are a couple of other secondary factors that may be contributing to EMFs’ impact on body weight—and one of them is sleep.
Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for maintaining a healthy body weight. Poor sleep can lead to cravings, fatigue, insulin disruption, hormonal dysregulation, and more[9][10].
Where do EMFs fit into the picture?
Studies show that EMF exposure can directly impact your sleep quality. This is likely, at least in part, due to the effect of EMFs on the sleep hormone melatonin. While the mechanism isn’t entirely clear, it appears that EMF exposure may impair the release of melatonin[11].
At night, melatonin naturally rises to signal your body that it’s time to wind down. It receives its signals from the environment, primarily from diminished sunlight. With EMFs present, however, melatonin may fail to receive the signal that daytime has passed, and therefore EMFs suppress the release of this critical hormone[12].
One of the most likely ways that poor sleep leads to weight gain is through an increase in the hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin, also known as your “hunger hormone,” is responsible for stimulating appetite and food intake. Under conditions of poor sleep, however, ghrelin becomes dysregulated, resulting in increased food cravings and, ultimately, weight gain[13].
#5 EMFs Promote Emotional Stress and Fatigue
In addition to sleep disturbance, EMFs may also promote emotional dysregulation which leads to cravings and overeating.
In fact, research shows that EMF exposure may lead to a range of emotional and physical imbalances, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, hormone imbalance, and decreased stress tolerance[14][15].
How does this all lead to weight gain? First, stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine are released, which can increase appetite and food cravings. Coping with stress is hard enough, but dealing with food cravings and stress at the same time may feel nearly impossible.
Second, stress also interferes with self-regulation due to its impact on cognition. In other words, the willpower that keeps you on a healthy diet goes out the door when your brain is under the control of stress hormones[16].
EMF Mitigation Tips For Optimal Weight and Wellbeing
Can we avoid EMF altogether? Sadly, no. These frequencies are everywhere in our modern environment. What we can do, however, is reduce and mitigate our exposure.
Here are some low-hanging fruit ways to reduce the amount of EMF you come into contact with daily:
- Unplug your WiFi at night while you sleep
- Put your phone on airplane mode while you’re not using it
- Avoid using your computer or phone while they’re charging
- Avoid Bluetooth as much as possible, especially when you’re in your car or other enclosed spaces
- Use an ethernet cable instead of WiFi
- Ditch the Smart devices for old-school versions that emit much less EMF
But what happens when you leave your perfectly EMF-reduced home? Power lines, public spaces with WiFi, and everyone else’s portable devices constantly contribute to EMF pollution, which is where EMF-mitigating wearable devices come in.
I’ve done quite a bit of research on the topic, and my top choice for EMF-mitigation on-the-go is Harmoni Pendant.
Unlike some other bulky contraptions you’ll find out there, the Harmoni Pendant is a simple, elegant necklace that you can dress up, or hide under your shirt.
More importantly, however, this pendant has some compelling science behind it. In fact, research shows that wearing the Harmoni Pendant can[11]:
- Reduce some effects of stress induced by EMF by up to 48%
- Lower biological age by two years
- Enhance your body’s biofield by up to 148%
- Significantly increase energy reserves and mitochondrial power by up to 530%
- Improve heart rate variability (a key marker for stress) by an average of 700%
- And more
Many people also report that wearing the Harmoni Pendant improves their sleep, which as we covered is crucial for weight management.
For me, my Harmoni Pendant is my peace of mind. I know I can’t mitigate all the EMF in my environment, but I certainly can take steps to reduce my exposure.
Takeaway
In the world we live in today, EMFs are simply everywhere. And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s about to change anytime soon. These energy fields may be invisible to the naked eye, but their impact on our physiology is very real.
As we continue to gather information about the impact of EMFs, and specifically how they affect our metabolism and the soaring rates of obesity in the U.S., we’ll likely find more specific mechanisms behind their chaos.
Until then, it’s our job to do what we can to mitigate our exposure and protect our bodies from EMF-induced dysregulation.
If you’ve been fighting the scale, it’s time to look beyond food and exercise and assess your EMF exposure. Reducing time spent on mobile devices and unplugging electrical outputs is helpful, but I highly recommend trying the Harmoni Pendant if you want real-time peace of mind.
