What is Leptin?

The Hormone Leptin and appetite regulation.

A major key to weight control, is it Leptin?

All food is for fuel and nutrient delivery, plus it can taste good.Food is converted to Glucose -G-. Glucose is a form of sugar that is burned by the mitochondria in every cell to be converted to energy-ATP- In order to convert food to glucose a hormone is released called Insulin.Insulin generally rises in the blood after eating, The pancreas releases insulin to feed our cells, the gate keeper to feeding us on a cellular level .Insulin opens the door to the cell to feed it The cells do not eat more than it needs. When there is more glucose in our blood than we need to feed our cells it is converted to other cells called fat cells to store for further energy use.It is stored as Free Fatty Acids- FFA.

When we need energy and there is no glucose in our blood stream then the fat cells release FFA for use as conversion to ATP,energy. The FFAs do not need insulin to open the door to the cell.That is why they are called free fatty acids.This is the natural, normal way our body is designed.As we move away from meal time our energy needs should be met by the release FFAs.If insulin is detected in the bloodstream FFAs are not released. So if there is glucose,sugar detected in our blood stream the insulin is released, this happens quickly. If you start your day eating sugary cereals, processed and fatty foods that convert quickly to glucose,resulting in an insulin spike,opening the door to feed the cells.The cells are fed and the cell doors close and glucose levels start to drop, but the insulin does not leave the bloodstream so fast.The excess glucose is stored as fat, thus the adipose tissue grows.

High insulin levels in the blood effectively shut the door on releasing FFAs for energy.The leptin levels remain low , signaling the cravings and desire to eat, and lower the metabolic rate and the cycle begins over again.When insulin is a constant in your blood stream no fatty acids are released and more glucose is stored as fat.Also this insulin bath fatigues the pancreas, causes premature aging and can lead to Diabetes II.

What is Leptin?

Leptin is a hormone produced by the fat cells. It is responsible for managing metabolism, weight management, and hormone balance. Leptin influences the brain and it controls energy, appetite and metabolic rate. Leptin problems can cause a person to eat too much, and is responsible for compromised metabolism, food cravings, food obsessions and can contribute to heart disease.

Leptin?s Role in Weight Management

Leptin is the key hormone that regulates appetite and weight loss by managing satiety, appetite control, metabolism and blood sugar.
Leptin tells your brain when to eat, how much to eat and most importantly when to stop eating.
Overweight people have high levels of leptin in their blood yet are resistant to its effects, known as ?Leptin resistance?
Reducing Leptin resistance and serum Leptin levels enhances Leptin function which is critical to successful weight management by lowering total body fat.

The Leptin Hormone has a significant influence on the following:

Insulin
cardiovascular health
reproductive function
sex hormones
immune function
adrenal function
stress
thyroid function
bone health
cancer
inflammation

Leptin?s Role in Metabolic Wellness

Leptin resistance has been shown to exacerbate symptoms of metabolic syndrome (blood lipids, blood sugar and inflammation which are also known promoters of premature aging).

Researchers have also found that Leptin resistance may also hinder weight loss. Leptin resistance is a chronic inflammatory problem that can lead to slow, steady weight gain. Researchers have discovered that C-Reactive Protein can bind to Leptin, preventing Leptin from being able to regulate hunger.

When people gain weight, it increases the production of CRP

This is low level, chronic inflammation that can contribute to chronic, degenerative diseases such as:

- Auto-immune diseases in general
- arthritis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other GI diseases
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Dementia / Alzheimer?s
- Insulin Resistance / Diabetes

The term leptin resistance refers to this binding of leptin by C-Reactive Protein (CRP).

Because Leptin is the major signaling hormone that tells our brain that we are satiated (full).IF Nitric Oxide levels are low the signaling sequence is impeded.

This means Leptin is unable to get into the brain across the blood / brain barrier, which means that people lose their sense of satiety.

THIS IS WHY PEOPLE KEEP EATING WHEN THEY ARE FULL AND GO ON CARBOHYDRATE BINGES...

Research has indicated that after weight loss, changes in the hormones that control hunger and weight gain occur, including a decrease in Leptin levels in the brain. These changes can increase hunger, and can cause a person?s metabolism to slow down. These hormonal changes may explain why so many attempts at weight loss end up in a yo-yo effect of weight loss and subsequent weight gain.

THE key to long term healthy weight management is Leptin balance by eating foods with a high nutrient DENSITY