Thank you for taking time to read this week’s blog. It might enlighten you about something perhaps you didn’t know. Today I had a busy morning of work, the gym, research and writing. When I finished, I was starving. As I ate my lunch I watched a random You-Tube that I thought you might be interested because the subject matter is not only interesting, but it also affects all of us.
I’M STARVING
How often do you say or think “I’m starving?” Some people need snacks periodically throughout the day in addition to regular meals. Others remember at 4:00 in the afternoon that they haven’t had anything to eat yet. Studies show that fasting can have myriad health benefits. I’ve been an intermittent faster for years. So, why do some people always feel hungry and others don’t?
GHRELIN
Have you heard of the word ghrelin? Allow me to explain if you haven’t. It is best known as the hunger hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and energy balance. It produced by cells in the digestive tract, is released in the stomach, then tells your brain that you are hungry. When your tummy is empty, ghrelin is released. It can also be released during stress and at the very sight of food. Are you one of those emotional eaters? This could explain it. When your tummy is stretched and you are full, the release is stopped.
LEPTIN
Leptin is the other hunger hormone and is ghrelin’s counterpart. It is a hormone brought on by fat cells and gets released when your brain decides you are full. Leptin decreases hunger. If you are thin, your levels of leptin are lower. Obese people tend to have built up a resistance to the appetite suppressing effects of leptin.
HEALTHY APPETITES
If it were up to me, I’d nix the ghrelin idea. This pesky little hormone is responsible for a hearty appetite and potentially extra body weight. I think I’m more of a leptin fan. I wonder if Amazon can produce and deliver it overnight? If so, sign me up!
WEB MD/CHAT GPT
I’ve always been such a fan of Web MD. I’ve even watched a healthcare provider consult it when he was unsure. I’ve consulted it often in the past when doing my blog research although now Chat GPT has become my new best friend. It is an incredible source for information including today’s blog.
HDD
At High Desert Diagnostics, we can’t see ghrelin and leptin in the stomach nor can we see much of the actual stomach with ultrasound. There are, however, many things we can see. Diagnostic ultrasound, also called sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of many structures within your body. If you and your healthcare provider determine ultrasound is indicated, we hope you immediately think of High Desert Diagnostics. Call us at 505-350-3397 to schedule your appointment possibly as early as today or tomorrow. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to prep dinner. I’m starving!