Friday, August 17, 2012

Attraction and Hormones

When was the last time you were sitting at the local Starbuck's and saw a man who had the physique of a pro athlete walk in holding hands with a women who looked similar to Precious. There is a reason we don't see sights like this too often. People date with similar hormone profilew. Sometimes we see an obese women with a skinny man, but are they dating out of their hormone profiles? My answer would be no. They are of equivalent profiles, but differing weights.

So many different theories on attraction exist today. Facial symmetry states we are attracted to people with equivalent facial symmetry. Some attraction experts think we are attracted to people whose immune system differs with ours in a way that would compliment offspring. This immune theory works with smell. We smell our mate to find attraction. We are attracted to people with the same or complimenting personalities states other experts yet. Some say we are attracted to people within our same walk of life, as in years of schooling, social status, economic status, etc. Still yet on a more primal level, we are simply attracted to women who appear to be good child carriers; wider hips, hourglass figure, softer cheekbones, etc. Whereas men need to have characteristics of high testosterone; high cheek bones, broad shoulders, hair all over, etc. What is the correct theory?

I believe it is a combination of all these theories, but with a modern day twist. We are attracted to our hormonal equivalent. When combining all of the other theories the final and most intriguing part of the picture is we are attracted to a person who has a similar hormone profile. That means a male with above average testosterone will be attracted to a women with above average testosterone. A women who is extremely estrogen toxic will be attracted to a man with low testosterone because of estrogen toxicity. Their hormone status will be equally as pathetic.

This theory makes sense on a number of different levels. First, we have known for years that a women on birth control, excess estrogen, is more attracted to the features of the room than a naked man in front of her. We know the opposite of a women not taking birth control. She is turned on the mere sight of the naked man; his muscles, hair, smell, and all his nakedness. Why does the estrogen toxic women not care about these things? Estrogen effects the brain. It also changes what she is attracted to. The same thing is true in men. Men with high testosterone look at women that will meet their needs. Lean, healthy, shapely in the right ways, and strong. Men with deficient testosterone, estrogen toxic men, obese men, or sick men find women attractive in different ways. Yes, they are still attracted to the traditional boobs or butt, but one striking difference emerges. They are not interested in the other things. They fail to notice the signs of a terrible hormone profile. The don't notice the extra fat on the triceps, or under the armpits, or around the waist. I have seen diabetic men actually enjoy women are look diabetic as well. 'Extra pudding.' This should disturb you.

This theory also makes sense in ways of lifestyle. We cannot be compatible with someone who does not live like we do. If a male has high testosterone, proper thyroid function, adequate growth hormone, sleeps 8 hours a night, eats organic food, detoxes regularly, takes supplements, weight trains, etc. how will he be able to be with a women who is deficient in all these categories. Hormone balance is key, not only for good health, but also for attraction.

Estrogen receptors belong to the nuclear receptor family. This means that when estrogen binds to one of its receptor types is has the ability to alter genetic expression down stream. That means excess estrogen can affect a number a different body processes, from mentration, muscle growth, and specifically brain function. Estrogen can alter the way our brain works, therefore, in theory it can drastically change what and how we are attracted to people.

Now it is time to take a good hard look at yourself. Now look at your partner. Do you both carry fat in similar areas of your body? How compatible are your lifestyles? More importantly how do you hormones match up? If you are single, take a hard look at yourself, and now think real hard about what you are attracted to? Does it match up? Next time you are out on the town, take a look around. What do you see?

Hormones attracted to like hormones.

-Dr. Kurt Waples