Nurture the Body with Real Food; Nurture the Spirit with Light and Truth!
In Taming the Wolf - 2 we talked about the role of the hormone leptin and how it was discovered to be the apetite controlling hormone. I've written some more about this hormone to help you understand it a little better.
Leptin is a hormone that is released by your fat cells; when you lose fat, leptin levels decrease, but leptin sginaling response increases (hunger diminishes). By comparison, when you gain weight, leptin levels increase but leptin signaling response lowers considerably (hunger increases). Lowering calories just 500 calories during a 15-week weight-loss study in Davis California resulted in decreasing leptin levels in the blood plasma by 54 percent and also led to an increase of hunger. Research indicates that supplementing more of the leptin hormone during weight loss does not help to lose weight or to lessen hunger, however supplementing the leptin hormone after the weight-loss is complete does help prevent the yo-yo effect in humans. To what extent or for how long is uncertain and further research is needed.
Weight-loss helps restore impaired response to leptin signaling. Also, there have only been a half dozen people discovered world wide that actually cannot produce leptin. Obesity in humans does not seem to be related to the lack of leptin; in fact obese people consistently have unusually high levels of leptin in their blood. Rather obese and overweight people suffer from the lack of response to leptin signaling.
Interestingly, research conducted at Oregon National Primate Research Center has demonstrated that high-fat diets impair leptin signaling while low-fat diets do not. Researchers tested cells which conduct nerve impulses and found the cells behaved as if there was no leptin present, even though leptin levels were 40 times higher in mice that were being fed the high-fat diet. It may be that "leptin resistance" is caused by high fat levels in the blood, similar to how "insulin resistance" has been linked to high levels of fat in the bloodstream.
Consider that during weight loss it is normal for fat levels in the blood to lower considerably. This correlates with leptin becoming more efficient in its ability to signal the brain. Our dietary recommendations naturally lower and maintain ideal fat levels in the blood. Typical diets that do not promote long-term changes, often lead to short-term weight losses and increased leptin signaling response. However, when the dieter returns to "normal" eating, their fat levels in the blood increase significantly and leptin signaling response lowers considerably, resulting in significantly increased hunger and caloric intake, and the yo-yo effect which results in weight gains.
This science is still being sorted out, but hopefully this much information will be helpful to you. As you follow the Original Fast Foods and Daniel's Challenge recommendations, the following occurs:
As you enjoy fruits, vegetables, and grains (legumes included) freely and use animal-based foods sparingly or not at all, you will naturally maintain adequate but low levels of fat in your bloodstream, and your leptin signaling response to the brain which controls feelings of dietary satisfaction will normalize. This means you will come to more easily and naturally eat just the right amount of calories and nutrients.
Remember that fruits, vegetables, and grains/legumes enjoyed together at any meal results in at least five to six hours of stable blood sugars and ideal fat levels in the blood that help to enable leptin signaling response in the brain (hunger is satisfied within a stay-slim caloric budget). The over-consumption of meat and other animal-based foods during any meal can lead to 12+ hours of high fat levels in your bloodstream and to decreased leptin-signaling response and to increased hunger. Best!
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