Leptin Supplements – 101
The mechanics of losing weight is a complicated one. Leptin was discovered in 1994 and heralded as a weapon in the fight against obesity, but exactly what is leptin and how does it affect a hypothyroidism diet? To date, there is still a lot of debate about leptin supplements and the role they play in hypothyroid weight loss.
Leptin is actually a protein found in the fat cells which communicates to your brain that your “fat thermostat” is set correctly. In other words, leptin is the substance that alerts your body to the fact you have enough energy stored in order to accomplish normal tasks, eat normally and when you can engage in activities that may take more energy. However, if the leptin levels decrease, your body interprets this as being in “starvation” mode, and tends to hoard energy stored as fat against it.
The leptin level is believed to be genetically set, so it is different for every person. High levels of leptin have been found in overweight people, but for some reason their brain does not register this fact. This is known as “leptin resistance”, where the body is obese but the brain is starved. It has been compared and linked to the phenomenon of insulin resistance, in which the body produces large amounts of insulin and the body doesn’t respond properly.
Couple leptin resistance and insulin resistance with an underactive thyroid and you have a definite weight problem. Since obese people already have high levels of leptin in their body, scientists have found leptin supplements are not the answer to controlling obesity. Their advice is to try to control the insulin levels in the blood, and the best way to do this is to significantly decrease the amount of sugar in the diet. It is also recommended to lower triglyceride levels, which seem to have an effect on both insulin and leptin levels.
Leptin Supplements and Leptin Resistance
The research into leptin and leptin resistance is still new and still ongoing. Scientists do not have all the answers, and have barely scratched the surface of what leptin is and how it works. Information release indicates leptin may have an impact on certain cancers and could affect fertility. Some of the other medical avenues being explored include leptin’s role in keeping the immune system healthy, and its effect on cardiovascular health. The true role of leptin in several of the body’s processes is still being explored.
Although leptin supplements can be found all over the internet and are billed as the next best thing in weight loss, the truth is it has not been proven in this capacity and could actually make a weight problem worse. Until scientists discover that “magic bullet” we all wish for, a common sense diet and moderate exercise program has been the one consistent way to shed unwanted pounds.
In the face of thyroid problems, a hypothyroidism diet is simply eliminating refined food, sugar, increasing fiber and staying away from calciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and spinach.
Someday we may all have an easy answer to weight gain and obesity, but until then the old advice is the best advice. Leptin supplements may play a role in overall body health, but it has yet to be proved to have a beneficial effect on obesity.
