Fatty snacks that we reach for to improve our well-being actually do their job, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The fatty acids they contain cause a biological reaction in the brain that reduces the feeling of sadness.
Belgian scientists from the Catholic University of Leuven conducted a study among 12 healthy people who had no problems with being overweight. Participants looked at photos of people with depressed expressions while listening to sad classical music. At the same time, scientists monitored the activity of their brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Then, half of the subjects were administered intravenous lauric acid (a fatty acid found in, among others, breast milk and coconut oil), while the other half received physiological fluid (placebo). During 40 minutes, the participants assessed their level of satiety and mood four times.
It turned out that in the case of people who were given fatty acid, the level of sadness was almost half that of the control group. However, there was no difference in terms of satiety.
Participants’ accounts were consistent with the results of the MRI. In the group receiving lauric acid, the activity of the areas of the brain related to emotions was clearly lower.
As noted by the leading psychiatrist Dr. Lukas Van Oudenhove, emotions influence the signals that the stomach sends to the brain, which translates into what type and amount of food we eat.
Researchers believe that research into the effects of fatty foods on feelings of sadness and other emotions may contribute to a better understanding of binge eating disorders (PAP).
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