According to this new study, published in the journal “The Journal of Clinical Investigation”, saturated fats increase the appetite by tricking the body that is still hungry after a meal. The researchers found that certain fats, particularly palmitic acid, activates a gene called gene PKCB. When the gene is activated PKCB, it makes the body insensitive to the hormone, leptin and insulin, which tell the body it has eaten enough.
The effects of foods high in saturated fat
In this study, researchers exposed the rodents to palmitic acid, a saturated fat, several times a day. When rodents were given the acid, they activate the gene PKCB, removing the effects of leptin and insulin on appetite.
While saturated fats produced this effect, unsaturated fats (such as oleic acid, a fatty acid found in olive oil, among others), do not. This confirms the idea that all fats are not bad.
Is saturated fats increase appetite and weight gain are humans?
If the effect of foods rich in fat on appetite and weight gain is true in humans, it would give an additional reason to avoid foods high in saturated fats, especially palmitic acid. The palmitic acid is discoverable in food sources such as palm oil, butter, cheese, meat and milk. Studies have shown that saturated fats such as palmitic acid increases the risk of heart disease by raising LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and promoting plaque formation in arteries. These problems increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.


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