The reason you can’t lose weight (or keep it off) no matter how hard you try.
LEPTIN: why it’s SO important and how to optimize yours to boost your metabolism and finally stay thin for life.
These animals get uncontrollably fat even on a normal diet.
Simply because their leptin doesn’t work properly.
Leptin:
◇ Regulates appetite
◇ Increases metabolism
When we get fat, we produce tons of leptin - but the brain does not sense it properly, so it’s like we barely have any at all.
When we lose fat, our leptin levels drop too low, which slows down our metabolism and ups our appetite, making it almost certain that we regain the weight.
These systems in place are there to keep us fat when the body senses it is necessary.
Simply because their leptin doesn’t work properly.
Leptin:
◇ Regulates appetite
◇ Increases metabolism
When we get fat, we produce tons of leptin - but the brain does not sense it properly, so it’s like we barely have any at all.
When we lose fat, our leptin levels drop too low, which slows down our metabolism and ups our appetite, making it almost certain that we regain the weight.
These systems in place are there to keep us fat when the body senses it is necessary.
Giving people leptin can cause them to lose weight, without changing their diet.
The thing is, people who are overweight already have tons of leptin, they just don’t respond to it properly.
Restoring the body’s sensitivity to leptin is the real goal in this situation.
The thing is, people who are overweight already have tons of leptin, they just don’t respond to it properly.
Restoring the body’s sensitivity to leptin is the real goal in this situation.
Weight loss tanks metabolism + thyroid hormones - leptin restores them.
Giving people leptin:
➤ Boosts energy expenditure
➤ Increases thyroid hormones T3 and T4
Back to normal levels after weight loss.
Increasing leptin is THE KEY to successful long term weight loss.
Giving people leptin:
➤ Boosts energy expenditure
➤ Increases thyroid hormones T3 and T4
Back to normal levels after weight loss.
Increasing leptin is THE KEY to successful long term weight loss.
For successful fat loss, you need to restore your body’s sensitivity to leptin.
For successful maintenance after fat loss, you need to increase your leptin levels.
We need to look at how leptin works to do this.
In the hypothalamus of the brain, leptin (and insulin) act on brain cells, which produce a compound called αMSH.
αMSH then acts on other neurons to:
◇ Decrease inappropriate appetite
◇ Make the fat “brown,” which increases its heat production and metabolism
◇ Increases thyroid hormones, which increase whole body metabolism
αMSH is melanocyte stimulating hormone, because it also acts on cells that produce melanin, which is what makes your skin and hair darker.
This all works like a charm, but both inflammation and oxidative stress cause the hypothalamus to become unresponsive to leptin.
In other words, you’re fat because you basically have a microscopic headache.
Whether the issue is a lack of leptin or a lack of response to it - ultimately the result is the same: you eat more and have a worse metabolism, keeping you fat or regaining weight.
For successful maintenance after fat loss, you need to increase your leptin levels.
We need to look at how leptin works to do this.
In the hypothalamus of the brain, leptin (and insulin) act on brain cells, which produce a compound called αMSH.
αMSH then acts on other neurons to:
◇ Decrease inappropriate appetite
◇ Make the fat “brown,” which increases its heat production and metabolism
◇ Increases thyroid hormones, which increase whole body metabolism
αMSH is melanocyte stimulating hormone, because it also acts on cells that produce melanin, which is what makes your skin and hair darker.
This all works like a charm, but both inflammation and oxidative stress cause the hypothalamus to become unresponsive to leptin.
In other words, you’re fat because you basically have a microscopic headache.
Whether the issue is a lack of leptin or a lack of response to it - ultimately the result is the same: you eat more and have a worse metabolism, keeping you fat or regaining weight.
Sunlight stimulates αMSH production in the brain.
Just like the sun tans your skin with melanin, it does the same thing in your brain when exposed to your eyes.
That increases your metabolism and regulates your appetite.
This is one key way to optimize leptin signaling.
Just like the sun tans your skin with melanin, it does the same thing in your brain when exposed to your eyes.
That increases your metabolism and regulates your appetite.
This is one key way to optimize leptin signaling.
Bright light boosts thyroid hormones + leptin signaling.
Longer days increase the active T3 thyroid hormone.
This then increases POMC - which is a precursor to αMSH, which is the mediator of leptin signaling.
If the days are short, optimize your lighting inside.
Longer days increase the active T3 thyroid hormone.
This then increases POMC - which is a precursor to αMSH, which is the mediator of leptin signaling.
If the days are short, optimize your lighting inside.
You can read more on how to do that + the importance of bright light here:
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Carbs increase leptin.
This is because insulin directly promotes leptin secretion.
Thus, the more you fast and avoid carbs, the less leptin secretion you'll get.
This is because insulin directly promotes leptin secretion.
Thus, the more you fast and avoid carbs, the less leptin secretion you'll get.
This is likely one of the reasons why carbs are generally beneficial for thyroid function,
and fasting / low carb are detrimental.
I've written about that here.
and fasting / low carb are detrimental.
I've written about that here.
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Another thing leptin does is lower serotonin output in the hypothalamus.
Serotonin is one of the key mediators of slowing down your metabolism. It literally helps put you into hibernation.
I've written about that below.
Serotonin is one of the key mediators of slowing down your metabolism. It literally helps put you into hibernation.
I've written about that below.
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Vitamin D boosts metabolism, by increasing leptin AND leptin sensitivity.
Another reason why going in the sun might be a good tool for losing weight + maintaining weight loss.
Another reason why going in the sun might be a good tool for losing weight + maintaining weight loss.
Poor sleep reduces leptin production, crushes thyroid hormone.
Should come as no surprise, but optimizing sleep is going to be absolutely vital for restoring proper leptin secretion, for weight loss and maintenance.
Should come as no surprise, but optimizing sleep is going to be absolutely vital for restoring proper leptin secretion, for weight loss and maintenance.
Omega 3 fatty acid (EPA) increases leptin.
I'm not a fan of fish oil, but you can get sufficient amounts from shellfish, eggs and grass fed meat.
EPA does this by stimulating glucose metabolism.
That means ANYTHING interrupting your metabolism will screw up the leptin system.
I'm not a fan of fish oil, but you can get sufficient amounts from shellfish, eggs and grass fed meat.
EPA does this by stimulating glucose metabolism.
That means ANYTHING interrupting your metabolism will screw up the leptin system.
What are the factors that "interrupt" metabolism?
There's almost an endless amount, but I discuss the most important ones here:
There's almost an endless amount, but I discuss the most important ones here:
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Soybean oil causes inflammation in the hypothalamus.
This is the primary underlying pathology of LEPTIN RESISTANCE - when you are fat, producing tons of leptin, but the brain does not perceive it properly.
This is the primary underlying pathology of LEPTIN RESISTANCE - when you are fat, producing tons of leptin, but the brain does not perceive it properly.
Orange juice compound (hesperidin) reverses leptin resistance.
One of the many anti-inflammatory, antioxidant phenolics in citrus fruit.
It actually directly binds to the leptin receptor in the brain, too.
More on OJ's benefits below:
One of the many anti-inflammatory, antioxidant phenolics in citrus fruit.
It actually directly binds to the leptin receptor in the brain, too.
More on OJ's benefits below:
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Vinegar reverses leptin resistance.
Through its effects on epigenetics, vinegar reduces inflammation in the hypothalamus.
Experimentally, this reverses obesity and insulin resistance, too.
More on vinegar benefits / how it works below.
Through its effects on epigenetics, vinegar reduces inflammation in the hypothalamus.
Experimentally, this reverses obesity and insulin resistance, too.
More on vinegar benefits / how it works below.
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Taurine reverses leptin resistance.
◇ Anti-inflammatory
◇ Antioxidant
◇ Supports mitochondrial function
◇ Decreases endoplasmic reticulum stress
all of these are vital for restoring leptin function.
More on taurine and its benefits below.
◇ Anti-inflammatory
◇ Antioxidant
◇ Supports mitochondrial function
◇ Decreases endoplasmic reticulum stress
all of these are vital for restoring leptin function.
More on taurine and its benefits below.
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TUDCA reverses leptin resistance.
TUDCA actually has the ability to aid in the folding of proteins after they are made.
A disruption in this process is what drives endoplasmic reticulum stress.
TUDCA actually has the ability to aid in the folding of proteins after they are made.
A disruption in this process is what drives endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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