Foods That Block Leptin

Leptin is a hormone produced by the adipose fat tissue. It plays a key role in energy intake and expenditure. Sensitivity to this hormone in the brain is integral to regulating metabolism and hunger. In addition to adipose tissue (white/yellow fat), leptin can also be produced in brown adipose tissue, placenta, ovaries, skeletal muscle, stomach, mammary epithelial cells, bone marrow, pituitary and liver, according to the International Journal of Obesity.

Sugar Induced Leptin Resistance

According to the Regulatory, Interrogative, and Comparative Psychology research, chronic consumption of sugar may lead to leptin resistance especially in conjunction with a high fat diet. This includes all forms of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, monosaccharide's, fructose, honey, glucose, lactose, maltose, galactose and invert sugar. Most forms of artificial sweetener are based on monosaccharide's, a fructose derivative.

MSG Blocks Leptin

According to the website MSG Truth, monosodium glutamate (MSG) causes damage to the hypothalamus resulting in resistance to the leptin hormone. In such cases even leptin injections were ineffective due to the damage caused by MSG. further MSG is often disguised on package labels, if listed at all.

Manufacturers sneak it into foods under covert names such as "hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein, hydrolyzed yeast extract, autolyzed yeast extract, plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, textured whey protein, and textured soy protein. Even the innocuous terms spice and natural flavor can designate the presence of MSG," claims Natural News writer, Barbara L. Minton.

Alcohol Leads to Resistance

According to the journal, Springer Link, the book Digestive Diseases and Sciences concludes that alcohol consumption results in a reduced production of leptin which is a result of suppression of leptin production by adipose (fat) tissue.

Artificial Sweeteners and Leptin

According to the website Woman to Woman, artificial sweeteners simply make matters worse. Not only are they more closely related to pesticides such as DDT than to food, they crate artificial insulin spikes which result in fluctuations in insulin and leptin. When the body does not receive the sugar it expects, it responds with a craving for carbohydrate and sugar laden foods.