Leptin is the hormone that controls weight gain. Not insulin, not cortisol, not metabolism, but leptin. Apparently leptin sends a message to the brain that the stomach is full. Whether the brain is able to decode the message or not is the reason you become overweight.
Typically, your body is very good at receiving the leptin message when you're young because of a lack of exposure to the message. Over time, however, your brain becomes apathetic to the signal and begins to ignore it. Think of it this way, when your nose first smells a pungent odor, it sends a strong message to your brain that something stinks. But the longer you are exposed to the smell, the less aware you become of it. Leave the room for some fresh air for a while and return, the signal is as strong as it was initially.
Similarly, leptin sends a message to the brain when there is a spike in the level of glucose in the blood. After years and decades of hearing the message daily -- endless feasting on french fries, snack cakes, sodas, and other sugary foods -- the brain is unable to detect the urgency of the leptin message, resulting weight gain.
Want to lose weight? Forget counting calories, reset your leptin signal. How? According to Doctor Ron Rosedale, it takes the following:
"Eat fat…good fats, as long as sugars, and sugar forming foods such as rice, potatoes, cereals, most breads and pasta, are avoided that would otherwise raise insulin and leptin and prevent the burning of that fat.
What are good fats? Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, pine, and macadamia nuts; all good, preferably raw or dried with low heat. Peanuts are not nuts (they are legumes, beans) and they therefore have a different (high omega 6) and unhealthy fat content. Olives and olive oil, avocados and guacamole, coconut oil, ghee; all great.
Eat these along with non sugary vegetables and a moderate, not high, amount of protein, and leptin’s messages will remain clear; live long and prosper. My guess is that Mr. Spock was on my diet."
The full article may be found here: http://training.tonyrobbins.com/1513/the-truth-about-weight-loss-hormones-prescription-drugs-and-your-health/
2 comments:
Very interesting. I have a friend who has lost 30 pounds by "retraining" her brain to recognize when she is full. She ate smaller and smaller portions until she felt the portions were the right amount. Now, she has kept the weight off for a few months - hopefully, a life-long change.
Thanks for sharing! Love the blog.
thanks, kathryn! (sounds weird to call you that in my head) hats off to your friend, and great for her!
i'm glad you like the blog!
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