MAYA’S BIOGRAPHY
DIET & EXERCISE PLANSLEPTIN AND HOW IT FACILITATES FAT LOSS
Written by guest author N.P.Burggraaff
There are countless diets available on the market. A current popular diet is the so called "leptin diet." In this article, I'll explain what leptin is and how you can make leptin work to your advantage.
What is leptin?
Leptin is a hormone that tells the body when you are full. In other words, leptin has big influence on how and when we experience 'hunger'. Leptin is a type of protein that is made in fat cells and flows into your bloodstream.
In summary: leptin is made in fat cells and tells you whether or not you are hungry. This means that the more fat you have, the more leptin your body will produce.
Resistance to leptin
Resistance occurs every time you ignore that voice that tells you that you are full and you end up overeating. If you keep on overeating every time you are full, your body will produce more leptin (because you will gain more fat).
How do you get rid of this resistance?
Experts say that eating processed foods or a high intake of sugar will have a big influence on the resistance of leptin. Trans fats and sugar that is quickly absorbed by the body are often found in foods that actually block the signal that leptin is meant to give you when you are full. In other words, these foods may prevent you from feeling full and satisfied.
The answer to the question on how to get rid of leptin resistance then seems easy; eat clean. Stop eating processed foods like cookies/pastries, white bread etc. It is said that fats do not have a major influence on the leptin resistance but carbohydrates do. The secret is to have just enough leptin in your system to receive the "I'm full signal", but not so much that you become resistant. There are a few ways to achieve this.
Making leptin work to your advantage
First of all a good night's rest is said to positively influence your leptin levels. People who suffer from sleep deprivation are believed to have lower leptin supplies.
Secondly (and this you probably won't mind doing) is having cheat meals from time to time. When you maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is recommended to treat yourself to high carb dishes such as pizza and pasta every once in a while. Why you say? Well, this gives your leptin levels a boost which is said to have a positive influence on your metabolism. This leptin boost gives your body the signal that there is enough food and no starvation, therefore it can 'release'fat cells.
Conclusion
Leptin serves as a chemical messenger to the brain that tells you when you are full. It is possible to become resistant to leptin and this resistance can cause weight gain. To rid yourself of this resistance, you should eat clean. Other than that it is said that sleep deprivation triggers low leptin levels which in turn makes you hungry and eat more than you should. So eat clean and enjoy a good night's rest to make sure you are receptive of the benefits of leptin. Oh, and a nice cheat meal once in a while!