Have you ever wondered how your body knows that it’s full and time to stop eating? It’s thanks, in

part, to a hormone called leptin. But, leptin resistance can cause weight gain, but it can be reversed.

Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells that serves as a communicator to the brain. It’s job is to

let the brain know if your body’s fat cells are at sufficient levels to support energy expenditure. It

helps jumpstart a host of other biological processes related to your body’s metabolic system,

meaning you eat, feel full, and then wait for nature to take its course so you can do it all over

again in a few hours. It is thought to have at least two major functions. First, it crosses the blood-

brain barrier and binds to receptors in the appetite center in the brain, regulating brain cells that

tell you how much to eat. Second, it increases sympathetic nervous system activity, which

stimulates fatty tissue to burn energy.

In a healthy weight body, this process is pretty efficient. But for someone who is overweight or

suffers from obesity, leptin can play a role in contributing to a vicious cycle of weight gain.

Research has shown that in obese patients, there is a high probability of developing leptin

resistance. This happens when your brain doesn’t properly receive the signal from leptin that you

are full. This may or may not be related to faulty leptin brain receptors. Regardless of the cause,

to satisfy the brain’s hunger, your body produces greater amount of the hormone, and you keep

eating until it hears your stomach loud and clear. As a result, you wind up overeating and

probably consuming more calories than your metabolism can handle for healthy weight

management. People with leptin resistance may find that they have frequent or even constant

cravings or feelings of hunger.

The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent or even reverse leptin resistance to

get your body into proper balance. Here are some tips:

  • Eat more fiber. High-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables increase the feeling of

fullness. Take your Total HealthcareMD fiber supplement with 8 oz of water!

  • Avoid inflammatory foods. High-fat, fried, and sugary foods, refined grains, and

processed meats increase inflammation, which disrupt leptin’s ability to function properly.

  • Consume more Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help reduce inflammation. Fish, flax

seeds, walnuts, and beans are a good source of these fatty acids. Take your Total Healthcare

MD Omega-3 supplement!

  • Drink more water. Keeping hydrated with water also helps to keep you feeling full for

longer periods of time.

  • Get more sleep. A study published in the PLOS Medicine found that those who got less

than eight hours of sleep produced about 15% less leptin than those who slept for eight

hours or more.

At the end of the day, all the body wants to do is feel like it’s doing the best job it can for you in

the most efficient way possible. By becoming aware of how leptin can be your friend or foe, you

can take the necessary steps to achieve that efficiency, which includes thriving each day at a

healthy weight.