Survival of the Fattest?

It’s no secret that foods high in saturated fats, such as the pint of Ben and Jerry’s you may currently be indulging in, are generally unhealthy. However, a recent article in Scientific American cites evidence of an evolutionary flaw that makes saturated fats especially dangerous to humans. Studies show that saturated fat in the bloodstream can block appetite-suppressing hormones, such as insulin and leptin, from sending signals to the brain. This can increase one’s appetite and throw off the brain’s reception of insulin and leptin for days after eating saturated fats. Scientists have linked this increase in appetite to an archaic aspect of the brain’s physiology. Because the body breaks down stored fats when it lacks food, the brain has evolved to recognize an abundance of saturated fats in the bloodstream as an indication of starvation. While this is useful when we are threatened with starvation, our brain’s physiology, when mixed with an over abundance of saturated fats, may spell disaster in an increasingly obese world. So, the next time you feel the need to indulge, think twice before reaching for that pint of ice cream. Your brain will thank you.

Posted by Elizabeth Tristano