Grehlin & Leptin

I heard there is a hormone that makes you feel full so you don’t eat as much. Is that true?

 

There are two critical hormones related to hunger and appetite: grehin and leptin. Metaphorically, think of the hormone grehlin as the accelerator pedal and leptin as the brake pedal in a vehicle. Leptin kicks in about 15 minutes after you have begun to eat a meal. If you eat quickly and wolf down your food, you can eat hundreds if not thousands of calories (depending on what you are eating) more than you need in just a few minutes. There is a science to this. First, drink a big glass of water about 15 minutes prior to the start of your meal. When you begin eating, choose to take a bite of food, put down your fork, relax, and chew slowly. Then take another bite and repeat the same behavior and so on. You start feeling satisfied in about 15 minutes when leptin kicks in. At that point, stop eating. Do this for 12 weeks and you will have built a healthy eating habit. Choose what you eat with care and have your last meal of the day as early as possible; by 5 or 6 pm, if at all possible. You may be amazed at the difference over time.