4 Main Effects of Neuropeptide Y

in our Body

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Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most potent and abundant chemicals found in the brain.

It is produced mainly by neurons of the sympathetic nervous system.

A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system and are specialized to transmit information throughout the body.

Discovered over 20 years ago by Tatemoto & Mutt, it is a 36 amino acid peptide that belongs to the pancreatic polypeptide family.

In the brain, it is present in the cortex, hippocampus, hindbrain and hypothalamus

Here are 4 Main Effects of Neuropeptide Y in our Body

1 Cardiovascular Response

Neuropeptide Y produces a potent vasoconstrictor that tightens the blood vessels in the body.

When your blood pressure is low, your body produces more Neuropeptide Y in order to maintain its oxygen demands.

2 Helps regulate our Body Clock

NPY also functions as a chemical messenger that is important for the light–dark cycle entrainment of circadian rhythms.

This helps us sleep and wake up at regular intervals.

3 Food Intake

It stimulates food intake with a preferential effect on carbohydrate intake.

It decreases latency to eat, increases motivation to eat and delays satiety by augmenting meal size.

4 Food Intake

In addition to increasing food intake, it increases the percentage of calories stored as fat and blocks pain receptor signals to the brain.

4 Weakens Immune System

Stressed out? Lonely or depressed? Don't be surprised if you come down with something.

Large amounts of Neuropeptide Y are released during stress which interfere with immune defences.

4 Weakens Immune System

The primary role of the immune system is the containment of pathogens, cancer cells, and infections.

The discovery of a molecular link between stress and immune suppression opens up new avenues for exploring the role of stress in

diseases in which immune responses are decreased.

4 Weakens Immune System

This explains why we tend to eat more than what our body needs when exposed to different types and levels of stress.

Neuropeptide Y, in addition to cortisol, triggers cravings for salty, sweet, and high-fat foods—foods that give you a burst of energy and pleasure.

The more uncontrolled stress in your life, the more likely you are to turn to food for emotional relief.

While it may seem that the main problem is that you’re biologically powerless over food, emotional eating actually stems from feeling powerless over your emotions.

You don’t feel capable of dealing with your feelings head on, so you avoid them with food.

Learning to accept your feelings, even the bad ones will help avoid stress eating.

This can enable you to rein in stress and repair emotional problems that often trigger emotional eating.

Your life will be richer when you open yourself up emotionally. Our feelings are a window into our interior world.

They help us understand and discover our deepest desires and fears, our current frustrations, and the things that will make us happy.

For more about our brains, emotions and binge eating as well as a free video course, visit

http://www.bingeeatingbreakthrough.com.