Let us make this clear – to lose weight, certain hormones need to be straightened out. Ghrelin, leptin, cortisol, and insulin are some hormones that have a major role in the weight loss/gain process. And guess what, the food you eat on a daily basis has a great impact on the hormones and the way that they function. If you have been unable to get rid of belly fat, it would be apt to put all the blame on cortisol and insulin hormones, whose levels get swayed by your dietary habits. To correct dietary habits, weight loss diets such as on Rati Beauty app work amazingly. Coming back to hormones, they are the chemical messengers of teh body that circulate in the blood stream and relay messages and signals across cells and control every aspect of your being – from regulating metabolism to controlling hunger, thirst, growth, stress, weight loss, etc. Some hormones have multiple functions in the body; insulin for example, is a hormone that regulates blood sugar level, but at the same time, also triggers fat storage. As we have mentioned above, we hear a lot about leptin, ghrelin, cortisol, androgen, estrogen as major players in the weight loss game, but we bet you have not heard much about “glucagon,” which is known as the fat-burning hormone. In this post, we find out how to unlock the fat burning hormone glucagon.
What is Glucagon?
Glucagon is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas (the birthplace of insulin as well). The value of both insulin and glucagon is inversely proportional, which means when one hormone rises, the other one falls. When insulin decides to rise and encourage fat storage, glucagon level will drop. Likewise, if glucagon level goes up, it boosts fat burning and the measure of insulin falls down.
Glucagon vs Insulin – Weight Loss vs Weight Gain:
Insulin, as we all know, is a hormone that is required to regulate and optimize blood sugar by acting as an escort which helps glucose to enter into body cells, muscles, and liver, so that they can be used up for energy. When there is a lot of glucose (sugar) flowing freely in your blood, insulin obstructs the body from reaching out it to its fat storage. It’s also a hormone that triggers the storage of excess glucose as fat, especially around the belly area.
On the other hand, glucagon converts glycerol molecules stored inside the fat cells to glucose form so that they can be burnt up for energy. This hormone pushes fat cells to free up their fatty acids for fat burning. Also, glucagon causes the liver to release stored energy, converts fat into sugar.
So, in essence, insulin is a hormone that you should try to lower as much as possible and find ways to increase glucagon function.
How To Unlock the Fat Burning Hormone “Glucagon”:
1. By Reducing Consumption of High Glycemic Foods: As we have mentioned above, insulin is a hormone that not only regulates blood sugar level, it also promotes fat storage in the body. When blood sugar goes up, it triggers release of insulin from the pancreas. High-glycemic foods such as soft drinks, cookies, cakes, refined carbs, sugar, etc., cause insulin to rise sharply, and the glucose in the blood stream will most probably add to your weight gain because they get stored in fat cells. The glycemic index is a value attached to carb-rich food to determine how they affect and increase blood sugar levels. Foods low on the glycemic index (GI) scale tend to release glucose slowly and steadily. Foods high on the glycemic index release glucose rapidly. A glycemic index of 55 and below make blood glucose rise slowly whereas foods with glycemic index of 55 and more can cause blood sugar to spike and then crash steeply, making you hungry all over again. This vicious cycle would lead to frequent hunger pangs, cravings, and subsequent weight gain. Eating lower GI food will help you manage blood glucose and prevent weight gain. To begin with, cut down all processed food, refined carbs, and sugary delights to control insulin spikes.
2. Amp up Protein: This macronutrient aids weight loss in multiple ways – by keeping one full for long hours, by increasing thermogenesis, boosting metabolism, and repairing and building muscles. A diet lacking in protein can stall weight loss, and that’s why you should try including a protein source in every major meal. Protein impacts the production of glucagon directly and signals the body to burn excess fat. Protein also promotes satiety, keeping hunger pangs in check, preventing overeating. Here’s a list of 15 Food Sources of Lean Protein that Can Help with Weight Loss, worth checking out. Additionally, you can check out protein-rich weight loss diets on the Rati Beauty app to shed extra weight.
3. Performing Adrenaline Boosting Activities: That adrenaline rush everyone talks about is a survival mechanism where the hormone adrenaline is released to prepare for the fight or flight situation. And this same rush can trigger glucagon release. Taking the stairs, yoga, cardio exercises, meditation, deep breathing can all trigger adrenaline release and further glucagon rise.
4. Sleep for at least 7 Hours Every Night: Sleeping for a good 7 hours or more can do wonders for your weight loss efforts – by regulating hunger hormone “ghrelin,” by increasing satiety hormone “leptin,” and lowering anti-weight loss hormones like insulin and cortisol levels. In fact, sleep deprivation is directly linked to weight gain, especially around the waist area.
By including these above-mentioned ways to unlock glucagon along with going on Rati Beauty weight loss diet on the Rati Beauty app, you can reach your goal weight and a lighter version of yourself successfully.
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