In order to understand what happens in the body when there is a desire to eat something, one should clearly imagine how the feeling of hunger arises. Ghrelin – The hormone responsible for the very feeling of hunger is produced directly in the stomach. This whole process can be controlled so that the feeling of hunger does not haunt you, which, therefore, will help to avoid gaining excess weight. Learn about hunger hormones and how to curb them in this article.
What is ghrelin and how does it affect hunger
Initially, it was believed that the feeling of hunger is associated with the emptiness formed in the stomach. While testing this hypothesis, one physiologist swallowed on an empty stomach a hose with an inflatable rubber ball at the end, which his assistant inflated. This action was indeed able to dampen the appetite, however, colleagues noticed that some patients had their stomachs removed altogether, but they did not lose their hunger.
It has also long been thought that a drop in blood glucose signals the need to eat. But this explanation also did not suit the specialists, and they continued to search for the cause of the feeling of hunger.
Discovery of ghrelin by Japanese scientists
B 1999 during a study on a completely different topic, scientists from Japan discovered a new biologically active compound that is responsible for the feeling of hunger.
The main goal of the scientists was to find out how the production of growth hormone is regulated in the body. The researchers wanted to find a drug that enhances its secretion in the body. It turned out that such stimulants affect the cells of the pituitary gland, where growth hormone is produced, not by themselves, but with the help of a special protein with a short molecule (peptide), which consists of 28 amino acids. When this peptide was administered to laboratory mice, the production of growth hormone increased.
The new compound was named ghrelin by the Japanese. It turned out that despite the fact that ghrelin has an effect on the pituitary gland located in the brain, its production occurs in the stomach, and it enters the brain through the blood.
An additional dose of ghrelin was administered to a person who was deficient in growth hormone, and his production increased significantly after that.
Artificial Hunger
A study in England provided very strong evidence for the role of ghrelin. Throughout the day, nine healthy volunteers were infused with a solution of ghrelin or normal saline. Each of the subjects was offered breakfast – Everyone ate the same portion of oatmeal. Two hours later, the volunteers were offered a smorgasbord, during which subjects injected with ghrelin consumed 30 percent more food than those injected with regular saline.
How to learn to control the hunger hormone
- Reduce the volume of the stomach. The larger the wall of the stomach – the more ghrelin is produced. In order to reduce the volume of the stomach, you should eat often, but in small portions. The same applies to water – You should also drink in small portions. In no case should you starve, in this case the body begins to store calories and tries to compensate for their lack of food.
- Physical exercise. Swinging your arms and legs, squats and jumping rope will help reduce your appetite.
- Don't forget about rest and healthy sleep. If you sleep 2-3 hours less than usual two nights in a row, the body begins to produce 15% more hunger hormone.
- Eat enough protein. Protein controls food intake and makes you feel full faster. If you start the morning with it, then throughout the day the amount of food consumed will decrease.
Learning to control the feeling of hunger, you will not gain excess weight. Read on estet-portal.com articles about proper nutrition that will help you adjust your diet correctly and always stay in shape.
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