healthnut
03-31-2007, 07:33 PM
The leptin thread touches on this a bit, but I stumbled across the theory of inflammation and how it contributes to heart disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, obesity, among many other things.
This is probably an oversimplication, but here goes:
Many of the foods people typically eat, excess weight, and stress, can cause inflammation at a cellular level. These foods may include red meat, white flour, sugar, hydrogenated fats, trans fats, etc. An unbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats can also cause cellular inflammation. Inflammation leads to leptin resistance, so although you may have normal or high leptin levels, your body is resistant to it and, therefore, you have difficulty losing weight.
Hence, the recognition of "antiinflammatory foods" that decrease cellular inflammation such as nuts, seeds, brightly colored fruits/vegetables, green leafy vegetables, herbs/spices, fish, fish oils, and a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 of about 4:1. Through a decrease in inflammation, the body becomes more sensitive to leptin and weight loss occurs.
Could this be why the "right" foods coupled with a correct caloric balance lead to improved weight loss?
Curious if others have heard of this and your thoughts?
This is probably an oversimplication, but here goes:
Many of the foods people typically eat, excess weight, and stress, can cause inflammation at a cellular level. These foods may include red meat, white flour, sugar, hydrogenated fats, trans fats, etc. An unbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats can also cause cellular inflammation. Inflammation leads to leptin resistance, so although you may have normal or high leptin levels, your body is resistant to it and, therefore, you have difficulty losing weight.
Hence, the recognition of "antiinflammatory foods" that decrease cellular inflammation such as nuts, seeds, brightly colored fruits/vegetables, green leafy vegetables, herbs/spices, fish, fish oils, and a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 of about 4:1. Through a decrease in inflammation, the body becomes more sensitive to leptin and weight loss occurs.
Could this be why the "right" foods coupled with a correct caloric balance lead to improved weight loss?
Curious if others have heard of this and your thoughts?