Understanding Your "FAT REGULATOR" - LEPTIN.....!

In my last post, I had given you the link , by clicking on which, you could watch a FREE video on losing at least 10 pounds and keep it off for good within a span of just 3 short months! And I am pretty certain that you all have gone through it.

Now in that FREE video, there is mention of a hormone called Leptin. This hormone has been proved and documented to be responsible for a person gaining or losing weight.

Let us try and understand what this hormone is all about, so that you will be better equipped to try out the weight loss program outlined in the FREE video.

So, what is Leptin? First of all, it is a hormone, which means that, it is produced and released in another part of our body, but travels to a totally different part of our body to make things work or happen! Leptin is produced in the white adipose tissue or fat tissue that is stored in our body. Once this hormone is released into our blood stream, it travels to the part of our brain called the hypothalamus (the area of the brain which controls when and how much we eat!) where it exerts its action. This action of Leptin is threefold - 

• In the first case scenario, it tells or signals to the brain that the 'fat reserves' are adequate and the body can go about it's regular activities in a normal manner.
• In the second case scenario, when the 'fat reserves' are high, it signals the brain to speed up our metabolism so that body can expend or burn the excess 'fat' and bring it down to normal levels.
• In the third case scenario, when the 'fat reserves' are low, or depleted, the hormone tells the brain that it is time to take in more fuel (food) so that the depleted 'fat reserves' are restored and the body can continue with it's normal functioning. Because 'fat' is the fuel that drives our bodies!

Leptin is therefore, the 'fat regulatory' hormone of our bodies. It is often referred to as 'satiety hormone' or 'starvation hormone'. Although, 'fat regulation' is it's main function, Leptin is also linked to issues of proper thyroid functioning, stress management, immunity, reproduction health, mental capabilities and cardiovascular health. 

From the above, we can safely say that, people who are over-weight or obese, have high levels of Leptin which is produced from their excessive stored 'fat'! And given the knowledge about how Leptin functions, these people shouldn't be eating at all! Their brains should detect the presence of more than adequate energy stored and lessen the impulse to eat. But does it actually happen this way? Certainly not, or else weight gain and obesity would not have been a universal problem.  

So what goes wrong? The problem has been found to be the break-down in communication between Leptin and the brain. The signals sent out by the hormone is not 'picked-up' or 'seen' by the brain, although there are plenty of the hormone floating around in our blood stream! This condition is called Leptin Resistance and is now believed to be the main biological abnormality in weight gain and obesity.

When the brain does not get timely Leptin signals, it mistakenly thinks that our body is starving, when in reality there is more than enough energy stored by way of 'fat'! It then goes into damage control mode by - 

• By making us eat more so that we do not starve.
• Expend less energy so that our bodies can conserve energy by becoming lazier and burning less calories, even at rest.   

This change in physiological behaviour triggered by the brain, is not the cause of weight gain, but it is the result of Leptin resistance, which is basically a hormonal defect.

 

This problem is more acute in women. By default of nature, you were created to store more fat, which is vital for you as you bring new life into the world. And as you have understood by now, the more 'fat' you have stored, the more the Leptin levels there is in your blood stream to signal to the brain that all is well and that there is no need to take in more fuel. But because of the resistance to Leptin, your brain perceives a lack of energy in your body and to compensate for this condition, it goes into the aforementioned damage control mode.

The end result? Well, you guessed it. Despite your best efforts, you find it extremely difficult to get rid of those extra pounds. 

But I am confident now that you have a clear understanding of Leptin, its functioning and communication with the hypothalamus in the brain, you will get a better grasp of what needs to be done in order to lose that weight and keep it of for good. It will help you look at this weight loss program , which I had mentioned earlier, from a totally new perspective! It will help you understand and adapt to a system designed to primarily get rid off your excess fat but also to maintain a slim, trim and healthy body!