Hormones & Methylation

The Leptin Rx: FAQs

What should I do before I start The Leptin Reset? Before you start, take a picture of yourself from all angles. Don't be bashful or you'll be sorry in 18-24 months. Next, weigh yourself naked. Let your significant other or a family member take this picture. Go to the store and buy a piece of clothing that does not fit you now, but will when you have met your goal. Remember, calories are important when you're LR (leptin resistant) and mean nothing once you are LS (leptin sensitive). Macronutirents count when you're LR and mean nothing when you're LS. How do I determine if I am leptin resistant? Remember, you can be LR (leptin resistant) if you're fat or skinny. If you're overweight by more than 30lbs, it is a lock you have some degree of LR. If you're underweight by 20 lbs, you are likely LR, too. If you had an eating disorder, you're likely suffering from a serious leptin issue. The easiest test is to look in the mirror. The mirror does not lie and it is really cheap. For those people who still can't be sure after peeking in the mirror, you can order some blood tests. My favorite is the HS CRP (highly sensitive C-Reactive protein) and the reverse T3 tests (but there are others). They are accurate in over 90{a7b724a0454d92c70890dedf5ec22a026af4df067c7b55aa6009b4d34d5da3c6} of cases.

Central Leptin Dominance: Part 2

Continuing on in the Central leptin series we will resume in Orlando, Florida. In Orlando, Dr. Myers, went on to say, "In addition to examining the molecular details and importance of specific LRb signals, we are dissecting the regulation and function of individual populations of LRb-expressing neurons and examining the role of leptin in the development of neural circuits. By understanding the totality of leptin action in this way we hope to decipher the mechanisms by which leptin regulates the predisposition to diabetes and other aspects of the metabolic syndrome." This statement carries huge implications. He has found that not only is leptin neurons somatotopically organized in the brain, but the leptin receptor also appears to be somatotopically organized into certain regions that wire and select certain neurons in the brain that modulate all parts of the obesity physiologic response. It also appears that this organization is different in men and women at the parvo-cellular nucleus in the hypothalamus. Certain parts of the receptor control total body glycemic control, others body weight and size, and others power the para-mammillary neurons to directly control fecundity, placental growth and oocyte maturation. The receptor even codes for gender differences! Men and women really are from Mars and Venus when it comes to obesity and fat deposition, and this explains why the endocrine response is different in men and women. We have known men and women have different leptin levels as adults but did not know how or why this happens. Now we do. We now are beginning to understand why it is the case as well. It helps explain why we see can see PCOS and stubborn weight gain together and why fat is distributed differently in both sexes.

By Jack Kruse|August 28th, 2011|Anorexia and Bulimia, Autism, Diabetes, Dyslexia, Endometriosis and PCOS, Epi Paleo, Epigenetics, Hormones & Methylation, Leaky Gut / Grain Brain, Live your Optimal Weight, Optimal Pillar 2, Series: Leptin, The Leptin Prescription|Comments Off

Central Leptin Dominance For Health: Part 1

Today, we are going to cut deeper into the leptin story. We need to look at the leptin receptor because its biology will explain why studying macronutients at a dietary level just becomes a confusing mess with seemingly multiple paradoxes. I recently commented on this in Paul Jaminet's blog on August 24th 2011. The comment was very detailed but not written well so I am going to lay out the reasoning in the next few blogs. As most of you know leptin is the lynchpin in my Quilt and sits at position two. Many people might not realize how important it is for health, in sickness, and for optimal endocrine function. It is the dominant factor in obesity and this series is out to show you why this is the case based upon the data coming out of some labs who specialize in this neurobiology. This series is going to be laser like biochemistry on a 30 foot level. When we talk about this type of lab science it is very easy to lose perspective of the larger story I am trying to unveil to you. I have previously called leptin the master hormone of the brain. Remember that the brain has two ways to control things, one is direct neural wiring and the second is the control over the hormonal secretions body wide. Given these two factors, I think I may have under called it, honestly. This hormone signals the entire body's nutritional status, metabolic status, and endocrine status to the brain at all times. The brain in turn uses leptin to regulate total glycemic control, energy balance, and all neuroendocrine function in all systems in humans. This means that energy regulation is centrally controlled by our neuroendocrine system. The brain uses this hormone as an afferent and efferent signaling hormone to know precisely what is going on in our 20 trillion cells body wide. The brain does not have direct wiring to all 20 million cells because of space limitations of our cranium and our mother's vaginas. So it uses hormones and cytokines to extend its power and reach to send signals to those 20 trillion cells.

By Jack Kruse|August 27th, 2011|Diabetes, Epi Paleo, Hormones & Methylation, Live your Optimal Weight, Optimal Pillar 4, Series: Leptin, The Importance of Sleep, The Leptin Prescription, The Optimal Paleo Diet|13 Comments

Vitamin D: The Sunshine of Your Life?

I was in a lounge watching the news last week and began to over hear a group of dermatologists talk about the new FDA rules set down for sunblocks that will go into effect in January of 2012. There was unanimous agreement among them all that sunlight was the source of everything that was bad in their world. One of the doctors said to another that, "no human should be out in the sun and they should just take vitamin D3 from the drug store instead of getting it from the sun." It was at that point I knew this was going to make a blog post about this. Apparently no one realizes that photosynthesis supports most of the food chain on this planet? And we are the mammal who has an energy hog in our head that needs energy. Since our skin is derived from neuro-ectoderm and we too use photosynthesis to make Vitamin D for our protection from poor electron dense foods in summer maybe we better re think this position. It is beyond me why the sun is so vilified. We could not have evolved past single cells organisms without it. We all learned that simple fact in school. But now with advanced degrees and plaques on our wall, are we going to blame all skin diseases all on the sun now? I definitely don't buy this conventional wisdom. So I decided to begin to add pieces to the immunity levee in the QUILT because of this conversation. And before we start let me be clear. It is better to get Vitamin D3 from the natural sources before a supplement in my opinion. But there is a catch to this pearl of wisdom. First, review this link on natural Vitamin D production.

CELLULAR DEPLETIONS….WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

READERS SUMMARY: 1. How do we tie the squabble at AHS to Neolithic disease generation? 2. How does a cell react to acute stress and what results? 3. How does this stress get measured by labs and my doctor? 4. What happens when this stress lasts too long? 5. Why cholesterol is always good for [...]

By Jack Kruse|August 20th, 2011|Adrenals, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hormones & Methylation, Hypothyroidism, Leaky Gut / Grain Brain, Mitochondria, Nutrients and Supplements, Optimal Pillar 5, Series: Miscellaneous, The Importance of Sleep, The Leptin Prescription, Thyroid, Thyroid Cancer|Comments Off

Your Gut, Neurotransmitters, and Hormones

READERS SUMMARY: 1. HOW YOUR GUT BRAIN AND RESPONSE OF YOUR BRAIN ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER? 2. WHAT ARE THE 4 MAIN NEUROTRANSMITTERS? 3. WHAT DO THEY DO AND MEAN? 4. WHAT AFFECTS THEIR PRODUCTION? 5. HORMONES ARE THE BRAINS ENDOCRINE SECRETION THAT TELLS YOU HOW YOUR EPIGENETIC SWITCHES ARE SET. 6. HOW WE USE [...]

Gnolls.org Opens The Door To Obesity Fight

READERS SUMMARY: 1. WHY IS MAGNESIUM SO IMPORTANT? DID THE OBESITY BATTLE OF THE BLOGS MISS IT? 2. HOW SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT MAGNESIUM AND HOW TO TEST IT CORRECTLY? 3. WHAT DOES MAGNESIUM REALLY DO? 4. THE MISSING LINK IN TAUBES, GUYENET, LUSTIG, AND EENFELDT'S RECENT COMMENTS? 5. ITS THE BRAIN GUYS......WHEN THE SQUABBLE [...]

By Jack Kruse|August 13th, 2011|Anorexia and Bulimia, Cancer, Diabetes, Epi Paleo, Fibromyalgia, Hormones & Methylation, Leaky Gut / Grain Brain, Live your Optimal Weight, Mitochondria, Nutrients and Supplements, Optimal Pillar 2, Optimal Pillar 4, Optimal Pillar 5, Osteoporosis, Series: Miscellaneous, The Importance of Sleep, The Leptin Prescription, The Optimal Paleo Diet|Comments Off

AVOIDING FATES OF RONALD REAGAN OR MICHAEL J FOX.

READERS SUMMARY: 1. Why the presence of genes means nothing to disease risk. 2. What do people over 100 years old teach us about genetics? 3. What six pieces of evidence found in 2011 tell us about AD or PD etiology? 4. How will industry try to solve the mystery? 5. What you can do [...]

By Jack Kruse|July 20th, 2011|Adrenals, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Diabetes, Epi Paleo, Epigenetics, Hormones & Methylation, Inflammation, Series: Leaky Gut, The Leptin Prescription|41 Comments

WHAT MIGHT CASEY ANTHONY AND OJ HAVE IN COMMON?

Do you have dark circles under eyes? Are your eyes sunken to some degree? Do you sleep poorly? Have you lost your energy? Sex drive gone? Do you bloat and start getting unusual bowel movements? Do you live in a plateau phase constantly? Has your weight remained the same too long? Tired for no reason? Need to drink a ton of coffee and salty carb snacks to get by? Do you still crave sweets? Do you feel generally rundown? Do you exercise a lot but still have belly fat that is resistant to loss? Are you forgetful often? Hair loss or brittle? Diagnosed with GERD (dysbiosis) and feel nervous often? Often depressed? If this sounds like you welcome to the diagnosis of adrenal fatigue. Many conventional docs don't buy this diagnosis but that is because they can't see what they are not looking for. This syndrome is most often seen in middle age women and can present with multiple endocrine changes that are often confused with thyroid issues or perimenopausal changes. Men do get this syndrome and most often it is seen with dietary issues and fatigue from working out or from chronic stress.

By Jack Kruse|July 8th, 2011|Adrenals, Depression, Endometriosis and PCOS, Estrogen Dominance, Heart Disease, Hormones & Methylation, Hypothyroidism, Leaky Gut / Grain Brain, Nutrients and Supplements, Optimal Pillar 2, Optimal Pillar 5, Series: Leaky Gut, The Importance of Sleep, Thyroid|Comments Off

WHY DO WE SLEEP?

READERS SUMMARY: 1. Why do we sleep? 2. Does sleep control metabolism and cell growth? 3. Do all living things sleep? How long is too long or too little? 4. What are the stages of sleep? 5. Can sleep help prevent degenerative aging diseases and cancer? 6. Is sleep the primordial condition or did it evolve as we did? Why do [...]