The effects of the hormones Leptin & Ghrelin on fat burning

Leptin and Ghrelin are like the dynamic duo when it comes to weight loss and fat burning. Think of Leptin as the appetite suppressor and Ghrelin as the hunger enabler. These two hormones play a key role in regulating our hunger, energy expenditure, and body weight.

Leptin is produced by fat cells and helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger. It acts as a signal to the brain that you've had enough to eat, which in turn helps to increase metabolism and reduce appetite. On the other hand, Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and stimulates appetite, promoting the intake of food and fat storage.

When it comes to fat burning and weight loss, these hormones are critical. Leptin helps to signal the body that it's time to burn fat stores for energy, while Ghrelin can sometimes make us crave more food and potentially store excess energy as fat. So understanding how these hormones work and their effects is key to balancing your energy and getting the most out of your training programmes and diet.

Now, where does food and our diets come into play? Well, carbohydrates can have a significant impact on these hormones. Higher levels of carbohydrates actually increase Leptin levels meaning your body is then sending signals to your brain to burn fat. Protein rich meals suppress Ghrelin levels meaning you feel fuller for longer because your body is not triggering those hunger signals to your brain as often. A great way to increase the hormone leptin in your body is a diet known as carb cycling. This is when you vary the levels of carbohydrates in your meals on a specific cycle from high to low carb days throughout the week, all whilst still hitting your specific calorie goals. I will do another post shortly with much more detail on carb cycling and its effects on weight loss.

In a nutshell, Leptin and Ghrelin are key players in the weight loss and fat burning game, and understanding how macro nutrients can affect these hormones is crucial for anyone looking to manage their weight effectively.

I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. Keep a look out for the follow up post looking more into depth at carb cycling and its benefits!

Happy Training!

Hana :)