Now that calorie labels have been added to menu selections, do you dare look?
Do you really want to know that your favorite meal alone has enough caloric energy to power your body for a day or two, and that’s not counting the appetizer, the dessert and the beverage? For any of you who have experienced the yo-yo effect of dieting there may be some comfort in knowing that your “will power” is not totally at fault. That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news is that your over consumption of high-fat foods may be damaging the neurons by causing an inflammation in the hypothalamus area of the brain that controls body weight regulation.
Research from University of Washington, Seattle indicates that studies of the brains of rats and mice fed high-fat diets, not only gain weight but their brain cells experience hypothalamus inflammation.
According to Joshua Thaler, MD, PhD, a faculty member with the Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence, the weight control neurons in this area were damaged and some cell loss was recorded. At this time he is cautious by stating that it is uncertain whether the injury to these neurons is permanent but it may indicate that weight gain is affected by a over consumption diet of high-fats. Thaler believes these results are significant in understanding the rise in obesity and development of future treatment.
Now, I grant you comparing your brain to that of a rat or mouse might seem unfair, but it’s the best science has to offer at the moment.
However, since we do know that high-fat content foods are the ones we are most likely to over indulge in, and the hardest to control when we want to lose weight, it might just be that we are sabotaging our success.
Those weight control neurons packed away inside the brain cells of the hypothalamus might be suffering from an overload of the very tasty things we love the most.
I won’t be able to enjoy French Fries like I use to, but at the same time I’ll feel guilty if I don‘t relieve the suffering of my weight control neurons. How about you?
By Joyce Hansen
Resource Link: Science Daily
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I saw a television program this past week, Joyce, called “Freaky Eaters”. The premise of the show is to have a behavioral psychologist and licensed nutritionist help these folks to change their “freaky” eating habits.
The gentleman they were working with this time around has eaten NOTHING BUT FRENCH FRIES since age 2. I know that’s hard to fathom, but true. And he’s currently in his 30’s. You should have seen the results from his blood work! It was enough to scare anyone to death!
I don’t have a diet high in fatty foods but I struggle with my weight nonetheless. I’m neurotic when it comes to reading food labels. For example, I refuse to eat anything that contains more than 600mg of salt.
It’s really frustrating to work hard at eating nutritious meals and see no drop in weight. I’m convinced the extra 20 pounds I’m carrying around is due to the hormonal changes once I became post-menopausal. Try telling that to a doctor! They don’t listen and lend nothing in response.
Wonderful post — very enlightening!
Melanie
P.S. If you’re participating in the UBC, you might want to consider installing a “subscribe to comments” plugin. Just saying … 🙂
Very informative food for thought. Thanks for sharing! 🙂