New research shows that a digestive hormone known as Cholecystokinin (CCK) actually signals to your brain in a way that your brain signals to your liver to stop releasing sugar into your blood – regardless of insulin levels. 

CCK is typically elevated following a meal higher in protein or fat, giving a full signal.  However, this research shows a new problem called CCK resistance (like insulin resistance), meaning that if you overeat fat and raise CCK too much, then this nifty way of lowering blood sugar is disrupted.

This research is interesting because it shows that something happening in your gut is directly regulating your blood sugar.  This is a similar finding to that of adiponectin, meaning that a hormone produced in your fat (adiponectin) is also regulating blood sugar by helping insulin. 

This type of new information is showing an integrated picture of how blood sugar is maintained in its healthy ranges.

The take home message is to keep CCK in good working order.  This means do not overeat fat.  Some fat, including saturated fat, is fine.  If, however, you cross a line and have too much fat you can turn off fat burning and disrupt this mechanism which will result in weight gain or the inability to lose weight if you are overweight.  How do you know how much fat is too much for you?  If you are losing weight or normal weight, then the amount of fat you are eating is not disrupting this mechanism. 

Interestingly, many people eat too little fat and thus don’t raise their CCK enough, resulting in blood sugar problems from carbohydrate ingestion.

A good weight management strategy that helps support healthy blood sugar function is to manage your CCK level while reducing fat calories if they are too high.  The trick in all of this is not getting too hungry while you are attempting to manage your weight. 

Whey protein is especially good at elevating CCK, which helps keep you full and one reason I suggest many people have it at breakfast.  Guar gum and Pine nut oil are two other popular ways to help increase CCK without increasing fat calories.  Use this extra support as needed to keep your fat intake lower, your appetite satisfied, and your metabolism humming along in a healthy way.

Posted by Mitchell at 09:37 PM.

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