Trigger Your Fat Burning And Hunger Crushing Hormone: Glucagon
What Is Glucagon?
In a previous post, the positive and negative sides of the insulin hormone were discussed.
Here’s a quick recap.
Insulin plays a positive role in the body when properly regulated.
It removes blood sugar from the bloodstream and delivers glucose and amino acids into the cells.
However, when high glycemic, refined carbohydrates are consumed in excess, the body can quickly experience an insulin hormonal imbalance that can release a fat storing enzyme called LPL.
The LPL enzyme literally turns your body into a FAT STORING machine.
Now lets talk about the antagonist hormone to insulin, called glucagon.
Glucagon Hormone: The Antagonist To Insulin
The glucagon hormone helps prevent low blood sugar levels and helps keep energy levels balanced.
When I say low blood sugar levels, this is typically lifestyle related caused by people who follow low calorie diets, skip meals, and do excessive cardio.
Glucagon, like insulin, is secreted by the pancreas and is also considered one of the hunger hormones along with leptin, ghrelin, and insulin.
Similar to the leptin hormone, glucagon is also considered a hormone that can turn off hunger as the secretion of glucagon can reduce the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, and signal to the body the feeling of being full.
Glucagon is also called the insulin antagonist because when glucagon rises, insulin decreases.
They’re essentially the yin and yang of blood sugar management.
When glucagon is released, it produces a fat burning enzyme called HSL.
Differing from the fat storing LPL enzyme which is released by insulin imbalances, the HSL enzyme can turn your body into a FAT BURNING machine.
In other words, the secretion of the glucagon hormone can initiate fat burning rather than fat storing.
By keeping both insulin and glucagon in balance, your fat cells will deflate and your body will maintain its role in burning fat for energy rather than storing it.
How Can I Benefit From This?
Remember, excessive insulin production, typically from the overconsumption of carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates, sets the stage for fat gain.
A balanced production of glucagon sets the stage for fat loss.
This is just another reason to reduce refined sugary foods and focus more of your carbohydrate intake on complex, lower glycemic, carbohydrates.
It’s also important to consume more high quality protein sources such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and protein powder, as glucagon can be stimulated by protein rich meals and snacks.
And lets not forget about your workouts.
Excessive, multiple hour cardio sessions are out.
Shorter, but intense resistance training and HIIT workouts are in.
Need access to protein-rich and delicious meals and snacks?
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.
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