Fat Burning Breakthroughs: The Leptin Hormone Link

Two ways to access prime fat burning time. New science backing the importance of controlling the fat hormone leptin, as explained in the breakthrough health book "Mastering Leptin".

(PRWEB) July 22, 2004 -- New attention being paid to the obesity epidemic by the government, medical doctors, Medicare, and the news media has yielded little in terms of original thought. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has republished the same portion control ideas they have been espousing during the entire time the obesity epidemic has been growing and worsening in our country. The ADA routinely criticizes all other diets as quick fix fads." Consumers looking for answers are perplexed; help is finally here.

Answers to the obesity epidemic are emerging from the over 300 scientific studies published each month on the subject of fat cells and how they are controlled by hormones such as insulin and leptin, and genes. This key information remains a complex mystery to the majority of the general public.

However, two predominant times when fat burning can occur are emerging from this literature. Individuals who understand this science can take advantage of it and begin losing 1-3 pounds a week in a healthy way. One principle has to do with the timing of eating, the other with the timing of exercise.

The prime fat burning time for weight loss in relation to the diet is during sleep. This only works well when a person does not eat after dinner. It works best when a person does not snack at all during the day, getting a moderate number of calories in either two or three meals a day. Snacking on any amount of calories becomes a large problem, as the snack raises insulin and consequently leptin at the wrong time of the day, in essence shutting off fat burning hormone and gene signals. The new science is showing that when a person eats is as important as what they eat.

The prime fat burning exercise for weight loss is mild aerobic activity, lasting at least one hour and ideally for one and a half hours. Heart rate and intensity are of secondary importance. Feeling refreshed when done is vital. To access fat burning mode, either exercise first thing in the morning before eating food or several hours after eating. Once done exercising one should not eat until hungry. If a person feels good energy and is not hungry they may burn a half pound of actual fat over the next hour. Eating anything will stop that process from occurring. On the other hand, as soon as a person is hungry after exercise they should eat. Fat burning is not occurring when energy is declining and a person is getting hungry. This approach takes advantage of the recently discovered uncoupling proteins in muscle, which when properly activated by the hormone leptin can 100% dispose of calories as heat.

The science behind these easy-to-follow fat burning breakthroughs is fully explained in the second edition of "Mastering Leptin", by Byron J. Richards, CCN, making it possible for individuals to understand how hormones work in the body and why the "5 Rules of Healthy Eating" are imperative for balancing the hormones needed to attain and maintain a healthy weight.

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