For those of you who are unfamiliar, Leptin is a hormone that helps regulate appetite and body weight. It is a “metabolic hormones” which means it helps keep your body in check. When your body doesn’t make enough Leptin, it can lead to problems with weight loss and overeating.
As humans become more aware of the link between diet and health, many people are looking for ways to naturally increase their body’s production of Leptin. This usually means taking supplements or eating specific foods. However, there is a more effective way to naturally increase your body’s production of Leptin: weight loss.
There’s a known link between obesity and insulin resistance which is why increasing your body’s production of Leptin is so effective at combating weight loss. The more you lose, the better your body will function and the more Leptin it will produce. This, in turn, can help with appetite suppression and weight loss.
An Appetite Inducer
As humans have evolved to depend more on nutrition and less on just calories, many foods were designed to be addictive and to make us crave more. This usually means carbohydrates, especially sugar, which quickly and easily raise glucose levels in our blood stream. When this happens, our bodies begin producing more Leptin to regulate our blood sugar levels and prevent harmful spikes. The simple and natural sugars in fruit, for example, have been shown to greatly enhance Leptin levels. The complex structure of gluten, which is present in wheat and other grains, has also been shown to induce the production of Leptin in our body. When eaten regularly, this can lead to higher leptin levels and, as a result, healthier individuals who are more able to lose weight.
A Possible Cause Of Obesity
If you’re constantly eating poorly and exercising minimally, your body will stay in a state of positive energy balance which results in weight gain. The reason for this is that your body doesn’t feel that it needs to adjust for energy loss due to exercise, so it stores the calories as fat. Studies have suggested that this could be due, in part, to low levels of Leptin in the body. When the body lacks sufficient levels of this hormone, it has a hard time signaling the brain that it needs to be active and that it should break down fat for usable energy.
How Does Leptin Help With Appetite Control?
Appetite is triggered by a complex interaction of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain. One of these neurotransmitters, serotonin, has been shown to inhibit hunger pangs by increasing the concentration of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area of the brain. Another neurotransmitter, ghrelin, is also produced in the stomach and it similarly stimulates the appetite via its receptors in the brain. While serotonin and ghrelin directly affect our appetite, Leptin helps to regulate our sensitivity to these hormones and neurotransmitters, preventing over or under-eating.
In order to maintain healthy and effective levels of these hormones, our bodies need enough Leptin to circulate freely. The best way to ensure this is by losing weight. Studies have shown that when individuals with obesity lose weight, leptin levels increase and the appetite decreases significantly. As a result, your body will naturally adjust to consuming fewer calories and it will be easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.
A Key Factor In Weight Loss
When someone sets out to lose weight, one of the first things they will try to do is to reduce the amount of food they consume. However, simply cutting back on food isn’t enough for effective weight loss. Studies have shown that if you’re really determined to lose weight, you need to exercise as well. One of the best things about Leptin and the way it helps with weight loss is that it makes it much easier to exercise. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which increase your mood and help with pain relief. In addition, Leptin makes it much more likely that you will have an appetite after your workout. This means that you’ll be able to consume the calories needed to restore your body’s energy. In this way, you’ll be able to avoid the typical post-workout slump which prevents many people from losing weight.
An Added Benefit
One of the additional benefits of eating foods which naturally raise your body’s levels of Leptin is that they can help improve your mood. This is especially beneficial for those of you who are struggling with depression or anxiety. If you’re not sure whether or not the diet you are on will improve your mood, it’s probably a good idea to consult with your doctor so that he can prescribe you an antidepressant or an anxiolytic (a sedative which reduces anxiety). In addition to this, supplements such as ginseng and vanillin can also increase both your body’s production of Leptin and the effectiveness of these foods at boosting your mood. They may also help with pain relief and relaxation. It is always important to remember, however, that if you are going to eat food which naturally raise your body’s levels of Leptin, you need to watch your portion size as well.
A Way To Increase Leptin
If you’re looking for a way to naturally increase your body’s production of Leptin, all you need to do is exercise and lose weight. Studies have shown that when obese individuals exercise, their levels of leptin increase and their appetite decreases. This makes sense since exercise helps increase your body’s levels of Leptin. In addition to this, diets which elevate your body’s levels of Leptin make it easier for you to exercise since it will make it easier for your body to gain energy from workouts. This, in turn, can help with weight loss and decreased appetite.
There are numerous ways in which your body can be naturally boosted to produce more Leptin. If you’re really determined to lose weight and be healthy, there are no shortcuts. Simply put in the work and keep up the good habits and you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle in no time at all.