Knowledge Centre

Appetite hormones, in plain English.

Hunger and fullness aren't willpower — they're conversations between your gut, your bloodstream and your brain. Three of the loudest voices in that conversation are ghrelin, leptin and the fatty-acid ethanolamide OEA.

Ghrelin — the "let's eat" signal

Produced mainly in the stomach, ghrelin rises before expected meals and falls once you've eaten. Poor sleep, chronic dieting and long gaps between meals can keep ghrelin higher than it needs to be.

Leptin — the "we have enough" signal

Leptin is secreted from fat cells and reports long-term energy status to the hypothalamus. Sleep, movement and whole-food nutrition all help keep leptin signalling responsive.

OEA — the after-meal messenger

OEA (Oleoylethanolamide) is produced in the small intestine after eating, particularly in response to monounsaturated fats such as those in olive oil. Research describes it as part of the body's post-meal signalling network that contributes to the everyday sense of having eaten enough.

How they work together

Ghrelin says "start", leptin says "we're stocked", and OEA helps close out a meal. Supporting all three through good sleep, regular meals, Mediterranean-style fats and — if you choose — an OEA supplement like OLEACORE®, can help your everyday appetite feel more predictable.