Guest Post: Dr. Sharifi on Hormonal Hunger

Today’s post is a guest blog from my confidante Dr. Susan Sharifi (M.D./M.S. Nutritional Science), so I hope that you all enjoy it involves one of our favorite topics hormones! Thank-you Susan!

Q: What is Hormonal Hunger?

A: Hormonal hunger results from widely fluctuating insulin levels and is responsible for the hunger pains and irrational cravings. There is a normal “tug-of-war” balance between glucagon (the catabolic, fat-burning hormone release d when you fast or go long periods of time between meals, or when you eat protein) and insulin (the anabolic, fat-storage hormone released when you eat carbohydrates). When this hormonal balance is disrupted, as occurs when one eats the popular high carbohydrate/low protein/low fat diet, unnatural alterations in blood sugar and the neurotransmitter serotonin result in the syndrome of “hormonal hunger.” This causes carbohydrate cravings as well as irregularities in mood, mental outlook and energy. Immediately after eating a high carbohydrate meal, high insulin levels raise brain serotonin levels and this surge in serotonin causes an imbalance with other neurotransmitters in the brain making you feel drowsy, lethargic and mentally “fuzzy”. A few hours later, there is a drop in serotonin levels along with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which causes carbohydrate cravings as well as an increase in the  neurotransmitter norepinephrine making you feel anxious, irritable and depressed. Hormones play an important role in satiety which tells us we’re “full”. The hormone leptin is produced by adipose tissue (fat cells) as well as the cells lining the stomach so after eating a meal, leptin levels increase and tell the brain we are “full.” Unfortunately, increases in body fat can cause leptin “resistance” and we no longer feel “full.” Ghrelin is a hormone produced by cells lining the stomach that stimulate hunger. Inadequate sleep increases Ghrelin levels and this is why sleep disturbance can lead to increased appetite and weight gain. PYY is another stomache hormone that decreases appetite/hunger and improves the brain’s sensitivity to leptin (the satiety hormone that tells us we are “full”). When we eat foods high in protein and fat (like your cheese omelet for breakfast), they both release a lot of PYY which makes you feel satisfied and full. Carbohydrate, on the other hand releases very little PYY, which is why your bran muffin and juice for breakfast leaves you hungry and craving more carbohydrates a few hours later.