Submitted by support on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 03:04
Weight loss series 5 – what is adiponectin and why is it important
Okay, so now that we have looked at : the theories, the questions to ask yourself; how to prepare for Christmas ; how do we decide on a good program; lets look at what you can do for yourself outside of any purchased program.
Adiponectin is an important protein hormone that is involved in a number of metabolic processes that are important to weight and fat metabolism. For instance, adiponectin is involved in glucose regulation and fatty acid catabolism (the breakdown of large molecules into small ones and release energy).
This important hormone is secreted from fat cells or adipose tissue. Like most hormones it travels through the blood – in fact, it is one of the most abundant hormones in the blood plasma.
This hormone plays an important role in conditions like: metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, weight gain, atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disase (a lot more prevalent than people realize).
Do you remember me talking about hormones like grehlin and leptin in prior articles. Well all three hormones are important in weight management. Grehlin increases a sense of hunger; leptin increases a sense of fullness AND adiponectin promotes the conversion of stored fat into fuel.
Research has shown that adiponectin and leptin can completely reverse insulin resistance in mice.
So that is all nice but what can we do about it…
Well, eating MUFAs can help. What are MUFAs? They are monounsaturated fatty acids. And why do they help? MUFAs encourage the body to create adiponectin. AND, adiponectin provokes the body to use stored fat as fuel instead of muscle. This allows people to loose weight AND more importantly, loose fat much more easily. Ooooh, that sounds good.
So what foods do we find these MUFAs that stimulate adiponectin that promotes use of stored fats as fuel? You will never guess…CHOCOLATE!!! Oh, that is exciting!!!
However, it has to be the right kind of chocolate…regular chocolate has been pasteurized and has lost all of its over 300 nutrients that the body needs. Did you hear that? Chocolate has over 300 nutrients that the body needs – that is phenomenal in and of itself. But not regular chocolate that is full of waxes, high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, colourants, fillers, etc.
Usually all the bitter chocolate (what we think of as good chocolate) has been dutch pressed and lost up to 80% of the anti-oxidants as well as the fatty acids and a number of other important nutrients we need.
BUT…Xocai chocolate still has all the ingredients our bodies require from good healthy chocolate, including the MUFAs which stimulate the adiponectin which stimulates the body to use stored fat as fuel. Yes, we are so lucky.
Are there other foods that can do this as well? Yes, olives (and olive oil), avocados and many nuts, i.e., almonds, walnuts, and pecans are good, and all have good MUFAs. Remember to eat a FEW nuts everyday - not to pig out on them!!! An avocado a day is great.
AND 3 pieces of Xocai chocolate is excellent - eat it about 20 minutes before a meal and it will help regulate the leptin and grehlin as well. In addition, the epicatechins and procynandins in Xocai chocolate do a phenomenal job when it comes to "gating" the fat cells so that they will release toxins AND turning the DNA of fat cells into fatty acids to be utilized for fuel.
3 pieces of Xocai chocolate is equivalent to 12 servings of fruits and vegetables in anti-oxidants alone!!!
For more information on Xocai chocolate, go to www.choicesunlimited.ca/xocai or contact: Dr Holly at holly@choicesunlimited.ca
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