The most reliable test for monitoring leptin levels is the radioimmunoassay
(RIA). This test will tell whether or not you have leptin resistance. The optimal
fasting leptin level is between 4 and 6 ng/dL. If your fasting leptin is over
10ng/dL, you have a leptin problem, and that’s not good. Most overweight and
obese people have extremely elevated leptin levels: 20, 30, or even 40 ng/dL!
If your levels do not fall as quickly as they should on the Perfect 10 Diet, you
have to lower them by taking supplements. First, add a dose of fish oil at 3
grams per day. Next, add Gymnema Sylvestere, an herb that has been a standard
of ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicine, since 600 BC. It decreases the
absorption of blood sugar into the blood, and it possibly regenerates the beta
cells of the pancreas. It’s great for people with both insulin and leptin problems.
Make sure you use a brand that is guaranteed to be standardized for 25 percent
gymnemic acid, the herb’s most active constituent.
Thyroid
You eat seafood, seaweed, vegetables, and fruits, but you still feel tired. Could it
be a thyroid problem? If you suspect a sluggish or overactive thyroid, ask your
doctor to check your thyroid hormone levels. To check for thyroid, you will need
a blood test for a hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Do not go
by the lab reference, which states up to 5 mIU/L is normal. This is an old
reference. Your TSH level should be below 2, or even below 1. If the TSH is
higher than 2, you have a sluggish thyroid. However, TSH, the standard test, is
inaccurate and can miss a sluggish thyroid. I like to check the free T3. Free T3 is
a more accurate test. It can tell you how much of the active part of the hormone
is available to do its job. Check the reference range; it should be in the higher
limit. If you have an underactive thyroid, a prescription for thyroid hormone can
easily fix the problem and help you become a perfect 10.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
Following the Perfect 10 Diet is a great way to boost your HGH levels since
exercise is an integral part of the diet, together with the right protein amounts. If
you still suspect a growth hormone problem, get to know your levels, especially
if you are over 60 or if you have symptoms (Fig. 13.1). People fear that if they
supplement HGH they will turn into the wrestler Andre the Giant, who stood at 7
feet, 4 inches and weighed 500 pounds. This is not the case. Many of us are
really deficient and we need HGH as we get older. Hollywood stars and
celebrities, who never seem to age like we do, have a special secret; they stay