Sunday, October 16, 2011

What are hunger hormones?

The three hunger hormones are

insulin
ghrelin
leptin

They must be kept in balance for healthy weight management.

Insulin is the hormone which allows the cells to take sugar/glucose from the blood and use it as energy. If your body is insulin resistant , meaning that the cells don't take up sugar/glucose from the blood, the pancreas will secrete more insulin after eating a high sugar meal, because the cells aren't getting their glucose. The "starving" cells generate the signal to eat more carbohydrates, which is experienced as a carb craving, sweet tooth, or a gnawing desire to eat.

Ghrelin is the hormone which makes you feel hungry. Leptin lowers appetite. If your diet ( protein, fat, carbohydrates) is out of balance,  the body does not receive proper signams to stop eating.

A study from the University of Washington in 2007 (David Cummings) found that proteins suppressed appetite, fats had no effect on appetite, and carbohydrates initially lowered appetite but then rebounded with a much stronger appetite.

Researchers also found that sleep deprivation altered appetite. Essentially that sleep deprivation increases hunger levels as well as slows metabolism.


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