How to Increase Leptin Production

One of the best ways to increase Leptin production as much as possible without gaining body fat is to have a TREAT DAY once a week; this will also help prevent you gaining weight if you have been on a calorie restricted diet.

On treat day you can eat as much as you want and what ever you want but only eat once or twice a day. Do not eat continuously all day long. This increased calorie intake will prompt the fat cells to produce more Leptin, which tells the hypothalamus to reduce your appetite.

In order to prevent and overcome Leptin resistance

• Avoid excess sugar and bad fats
• Perform regular daily exercise
• Improve sleep habits (you should aim to sleep for six or seven hours a night)

Use the following supplements

Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and is best known as the sleep hormone. Melatonin also is a powerful antioxidant, anti-ageing agent, immunoregulator and anti-depressant. Melatonin is not licensed for sale in chemists in the UK but can be bought over the counter in health food shops.

Check this blog about seratonin, melatonin and vitamins to aid stress management

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid which plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat. L-Carnitine increases the use of fat as an energy source while also helping to protect against muscle and liver diseases.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA

Research suggests that CLA together with a sensible diet and moderate exercise mayb help to reduce body fat, help maintain weight loss and retain muscle mass in both men and women.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega -3 fatty acids are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. Occur naturally in many foods, here are some of them; salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, cauliflower, cabbage, tofu, Soya beans and brussel sprouts.

Ghrelin is a hormone that increases hunger

Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly by cells lining the fundus (left portion of the stomach’s body) and epsilon cells of the pancreas. Ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates hunger. Ghrelin levels increase before food and decrease afterwards.


Ghrelin is considered the partner of Leptin which is an appetite suppressant. Leptin is produced by adipose tissue. Leptin induces satiation when present at higher levels.

In some bariatric procedures (operations for extremely obese people), the level of ghrelin is deliberately reduced, causing them to feel full earlier.

There is research to suggest that ghrelin also has an effect on the tabula rasa cortex and causes too many fatty genes to be produced. This fat accumulates in the abdominal region. Fat in this area is known to be contributing factors towards the onset of type 2 diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Is there a link between the hunger hormones and stress?
A study led by Jeffrey Zigman of the University of Texas South Western Medical Centre suggests that the body produces more ghrelin when it is stressed and is part of the body’s natural defence against stress, it tends to reduce typical depressive and anxious behaviour. But unfortunately it boosts the appetite leading to comfort eating and weight gain. The same research also shows that these hunger hormones Leptin and Ghrelin affect mood, stress and energy levels.

Leptin is a hormone that assists in regulating appetite and. . .

Leptin is a hormone that assists in regulating appetite and metabolism and was discovered in 1994. Leptin levels are proportional to body fat as it is released by fat cells.

obesity is said to lead to 30,000 premature deaths per year - shortening life by an average of nine years. leptin is an appetite suppressant, it stops ou eating too much.

It is thought that many obese people may have developed leptin resistance. In other words the body fails to respond to leptin signals. This begins a cycle where more leptin is produced.

The theory is that as you get fatter you also get less sensitive to the effects of leptin.

How to find the right weight loss programme for you!!!

It's that time of year again when many of us have been thinking about needing to lose weight. Most of us because we look better and feel more comfortable in our clothes, which in turn makes us feel better, not only physically but mentally as well.

In this day and age when the NHS is talking about charging patients that go into hospital with weight related problems it is vital that we take charge of our life-style. Don't wait until problems occur, we have all heard the saying 'prevention is better than cure'.

What are weight related problems?

• joint aches and pains 
• diabetes (type 2)
• heartburn
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• high blood pressure
• eating disorders
• poly-cystic ovary syndrome
• cardiovascular disease
• high cholesterol
• varicose veins
• hemorrhoids

 These are the more common complaints, there are many more.

I am sure that you can see that by trying to keep your weight (or more importantly) BMI body mass index to a healthy level. Many nasty diseases and problems can be avoided.

There have been many diets advertised over the years do you remember:

•  Atkins diet made popular since the 1970's (stinky breath)
• Cabbage Soup diet
• Negative calorie diet
• Low Fat diet popular in the 1980's and 1990's
• Low Carb diet
• Zone diet
• South Beach diet
• Tapeworm diet (I can't imagine and definitely don't want to)
• Grapefruit diet
• Acai Berry diet

If the eating plan has the word diet in it then it is not sustainable for long and in my experience when you stop doing it, then weight piles back on and sometimes even more than the amount you lost.

There are several really sensible eating plans about and to be honest all of us know what needs to be done. Use more calories than we eat and drink. It is that simple.

Before you decide which eating plan to follow, you need to make a list of foods and drinks you really like and taylor the plan to meet your needs.

For instance if you really enjoy a glass of wine with your meal then there is no point in following a plan that says absolutely no alcohol.

If you are vegetarian then don't follow a plan that includes loads of meat.

As humans we really like to be told how to do something and a step by step plan of what to do and when to do it. And that if we do it then we will succeed. I know I do, but there is no point in making it more difficult and unpleasant than it needs to be.

Here are a few recommendations, but check them for yourselves and decide which to follow you may even decide to mix and match.

If you are one of the many women who are apple shaped then 'fat around the middle' by Marilyn Glenville is the eating plan for you. Check it out!

I recommend any book by nutritionist guru Patrick Holford but 'The Holford Low GL Diet Cookbook is excellent. If you are veggie then look at 'Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook' by Rose Elliot or 'The Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook' by Professor Jennie Brand Miller et al.

I came across this guy only a few days ago, he makes loads of sense to me 'The Weight Loss Miracle' with Dr. Ben Lerner, I have subscribed. At least watch and listen to the free video. this weight loss programme is written by a doctor so at least it should be safe.

Ben Lerner says you can do

too much dieting

too much exercise

you can eat too little fat

have too little sleep

have too much toxicity in you body

There are hundreds and probably thousands of dvds and books available, do some research and choose the right way to go for you.

Remember don't follow anything you can't or wouldn't want to carry on with, because when you stop you will put all the weight back on and probably more than you ever lost.

Is there a miracle weight loss programme that is safe and easy to follow? I don't know, but if you find one please let me know.