Satiety / Pancreatic Function / Insulin Production

("Don't call it calories, call it food") #1

I think this might be the wrong section to post in - if so, sorry. I have a few basic questions, and I know there are wonderful books out there to read, but I do not have the ability at the moment to read those books (I won’t bore you with my life story; rather, I hope you’ll just take me at my word!). I am not looking for long answers here, just a few words so I can understand a few things.

  1. How does fat affect satiety differently from either carbs or protein? I understand the basic concept of the ghrelin/leptin loop… If fat doesn’t stretch the stomach (or fill it), does that mean it triggers leptin and down-regulates ghrelin differently from a voluminous meal of veges/carbs/protein? Is there another system altogether when we deal with fat?

  2. Does anyone know if the endocrine and exocrine functions are connected in any way in the pancreas? Are there feedback loops that connect the two functions? It seems to me that as they are occurring in the same organ, there must be some inter-relation.

  3. If we eat <20 g of carbs, but still eat a few grams of sugar (ie, in milk, or coconut milk or something), is insulin produced?

  4. And, lastly, a question that likely will elicit a :woman_shrugging: … when does weight loss stop in a ketogenic diet if we assume hormonal systems are functioning adequately (ie, no significant IR, no leptin resistance)? Do we have any science that suggests how we understand where each person’s “set point” is? Or is this completely in the n=1, we have no idea, wait and see category? I don’t really care, it is something that makes me curious…

Thanks for all your help! I have a few more questions but cannot remember them right now :slight_smile: I will move this to Keto Chat or Newbies if that is a better place (if I can move it???)

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Don’t know all the answers, but here’s what I know:

  1. Part of it is that fat contains more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrate. I am not sure how satiety works, exactly, but I do know that it stops me from wanting food, long before I fill up my stomach. Peptide YY is the hormone that signals the brain “stop eating,” and it is made in the small intestine, so it takes a while for the signal to get sent. Leptin is made by the adipose tissue, and it’s job is to signal to the hypothalamus that there is enough stored energy for the body to get by on for a while. Sorry that doesn’t answer all that you asked.

  2. I imagine you’re right, but have no idea how it might work.

  3. Insulin is produced in response to elevated blood glucose, so in that sense, no—as long as it’s under 20 g of sugar (or perhaps more, depending on how insulin-resistant you are). Remember that protein also stimulates insulin production, so insulin is released every time we eat. Some artificial sweeteners also trigger insulin, and I have heard that insulin can even be released when we merely think about food.

  4. The normal range of body fat in men is around 10-12%, and around 20-23% in women, as I understand. Don’t beat me up if I got the numbers wrong, lol! They are at least in the ballpark. A well-formulated ketogenic diet is not a weight-loss diet, however, it is a weight-normalization diet. (Not mine, I borrowed it from someone on these forums.)

As for the concept of “set point,” some scientists believe in the idea, while others pooh-pooh it. I can tell you, however, that my n=1 is that my bloodwork, pulse, and blood pressure are all completely normal, after years of derangement—and I’m still forty or fifty pounds heavier than I’d like. My body seems fine here, however—damn it! :grin: Make of that what you will.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

Forgot to add: Do you want the thread moved? I’ll be happy to, but I think it’s just fine right here.

("Don't call it calories, call it food") #4

Paul,

Thank you so much for your lovely answers. You are always such a kind, thoughtful and considerate responder on the forum. I don’t need the post moved - I wasn’t sure it was the right place :slight_smile:

Your answers prompted me to go read some articles/studies… This nutrition and physiology stuff is so interesting! :slight_smile:

If I find any more information to answer my own questions, I’ll post links in a new reply.

Emma