We love fat, and there’s good reason why.
Scientists are beginning to understand the the ways in which our bodies react biochemically to fat, and it may lead to new ways to curb our addictions to unhealthy foods.
In a new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, California researchers have discovered that receptors in our mouths, upon coming into contact with fat, triggering a powerful addiction-type mechanism in our guts.
Essentially it activates cannabis-like compounds in our body. Fat, therefore, makes us happy and we want more.
Dr. Arya Sharma, a Canadian obesity researcher, describes the study :
Perhaps drug researchers can identify CB-1 inhibitors like rimonabant that do not have similarly bad side effects.
For now your best bet to combat this mechanism is some sort of portion control: Put some chips in a bowl, and then put the bag away, or likewise don’t eat from the carton of ice cream but instead scoop some out.
Scientists are beginning to understand the the ways in which our bodies react biochemically to fat, and it may lead to new ways to curb our addictions to unhealthy foods.
In a new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, California researchers have discovered that receptors in our mouths, upon coming into contact with fat, triggering a powerful addiction-type mechanism in our guts.
Essentially it activates cannabis-like compounds in our body. Fat, therefore, makes us happy and we want more.
Dr. Arya Sharma, a Canadian obesity researcher, describes the study :
This study shows that oral sensing of fat sends a signal to the brain, which in turn sends a signal to the gut leading to formation of endocannabinoids, which in turn re-enforce fat eating.
This is probably why, just eating one piece of fatty food (say one potato chip or French fry) is so hard. Simply eating one makes you want to continue eating till the whole bag or plate is empty.
Unfortunately, the drug rimonabant, used to effectively block this effect in this study, is no longer available for obesity management (it was withdrawn due to its negative impact on mood), but it may well be that other CB-1 inhibitors that do not enter the brain may prove to be effective to reduce fat intake.
Perhaps drug researchers can identify CB-1 inhibitors like rimonabant that do not have similarly bad side effects.
For now your best bet to combat this mechanism is some sort of portion control: Put some chips in a bowl, and then put the bag away, or likewise don’t eat from the carton of ice cream but instead scoop some out.
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