Relax and Slim provides advice, clinics, therapy and consultancy on how to lose weight whilst keeping relaxed and stress free.
It does not matter if you are already on a diet, going to weight watchers, slimming world, arriba or any other slimming club, Relax and Slim will help you become more effective at losing weight.
Relax and Slim provides advice, clinics, therapy and consultancy on how to lose weight whilst keeping relaxed and stress free.
It does not matter if you are already on a diet, going to weight watchers, slimming world, arriba or any other slimming club, Relax and Slim will help you become more effective at losing weight.
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Hormone Gremlins -
Studies
Studies have shown how ghrelin appears to make high-
Ghrelin levels should always reduce after eating, however this does not appear to happen with everyone. Those whose ghrelin levels remains high just want to keep eating. Because the hormone activates the pleasure centre of our brain, it takes considerable will power to ignore these cravings.
One study suggests that it is natural for humans to try an keep a higher level of fat that is medically healthy for us.
An initial study monitored ghrelin and leptin levels as the subjects were put on a extreme diet, losing over 10% of their body weight. As expected leptin levels dropped because they felt hungry and their appetite increased and metabolism slowed, ghrelin levels increased making food more desirable. They were then given a healthy weight maintenance diet for the next 12 months, however when they returned for the second stage of the study, they had actually regained 50% of what they had lost.
How to Control the Hormones
High protein diets suppress ghrelin. Fats are poor at suppressing ghrelin and carbohydrates will suppress ghrelin well at first, but levels rebound later, rising to an even higher level, often making you even hungrier than you were before you had eaten. Slow release carbohydrates are far better than quick release sugars that create ghrelin ‘spikes’.
Beware of artificial sweeteners. Studies have suggested a link between the sweetness taste receptors on our tongues and the activation of the hormones. The expectation of a sweet carbohydrate, which then does not arrive in the stomach, is believed to create an even greater desire for food, especially carbohydrates.
High protein breakfasts can help keep both ghrelin and leptin under control. Also smaller regular meals and not eating 3 hours before going to sleep. Regular exercise helps, especially where this involves frequent movement, for example once an hour taking a five minute brisk walk.
Keep busy. Boredom makes you more vulnerable to your hormone induced cravings.
Reading this article may help you control the hormones. Awareness of what is happening in your body helps you understand your cravings and food desires, so makes it easier to ignore them.
Watch this space -