Can’t lose weight? Maybe it’s your Adiponectin Levels?
My what? What exactly is Adiponectin?
Adiponectin is a protein that is related to how well you metabolize fat and even your risk of developing certain cancers.
The accumulation of abdominal fat can be associated with a decline in adiponectin. Adiponectin is produced by the body’s fat cells, and makes them (particularly those in the muscle and liver) more sensitive to helping insulin do it’s job.
Improving function of insulin (known as insulin sensitivity vs. resistance) helps with visceral fat loss, and lowered risk of cancer (since high insulin levels can increase growth of tumors).
This research is still in the very early stages but a few studies exist which reveal how one can increase adiponectin.
One study showed adiponectin levels rose 260% after 2-3 bouts of exercise and stayed elevated for a few weeks. Another study showed yoga moderately increased levels in overweight women and helped with hormone balance.
Fourteen different studies have shown that fish oil moderately increases adiponectin levels.
Bottom line?
More research is needed but in the meantime the take home message is lifestyle modification can be helpful in treating adiponectin levels, which can help other hormone imbalances, such as insulin resistance leading to weight loss.
Research is starting to reveal that calories in does not equal calories out. Other metabolic factors may be setting the tone for health and weight that we had no previous knowledge of.
Moderate exercise such as walking and yoga, and taking your fish oil on a daily basis may be doing more good than you realize including lowering your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.
