Ghrelin, the “Go” Hormone
Ghrelin is responsible for stimulating hunger, and it is the “go” hormone that tells you when to eat. The ghrelin hormone, discovered in 1999, is released primarily from cells in the stomach and travels to the brain. There, it interacts with both the hypothalamus (the brain’s physiological eating center) and the brain’s pleasure centers to arouse hunger.
Throughout the course of a day, ghrelin levels naturally change dramatically, rising steeply before a meal and then plummeting after eating. Ghrelin stimulates the brain, which leads to an increase in appetite, and it slows metabolism and decreases the body’s ability to burn fat. Ghrelin also favors the amassing of fatty tissue in the abdominal area.
Here are a few tips to improve the function of ghrelin:
Sugar: Avoid high-fructose corn syrup and sugar-sweetened drinks, which can impair ghrelin response after meals.
Protein: Eating protein at every meal, especially breakfast, can reduce ghrelin levels and promote satiety.
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