Ghrelin
Known as the 'Hunger Hormone,' Ghrelin is produced in the stomach to signal the brain that the body needs food.
Deep Dive
Ghrelin works in opposition to Leptin (the satiety hormone). In a healthy metabolism, Ghrelin rises before meals to stimulate appetite and drops after eating to signal fullness. This elegant feedback loop keeps energy intake balanced with energy expenditure.
However, poor sleep and Leptin Resistance can keep Ghrelin chronically elevated, leading to a state of 'unrelenting hunger' even after a full meal. Research shows that just one night of poor sleep can increase Ghrelin levels by up to 28%, explaining why sleep-deprived individuals crave high-calorie foods.
Chronic Ghrelin elevation also suppresses growth hormone release and promotes visceral fat storage. Addressing Ghrelin dysregulation requires fixing the upstream causes — sleep quality, leptin sensitivity, and meal timing — rather than relying on willpower to override the signal.