(21-09-12) Dietary proteins signal brain satiety to help prevent overeating and obesity

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) It's no secret that overconsumption of calories, especially
those from high calorie refined and processed carbohydrate junk foods is making
America fat and taking nearly a decade off our natural lifespan. Since the
early 1970's, our food supply has been infused with synthesized sweeteners such
as high fructose corn syrup that is promptly metabolized to fat after
ingestion. Nutrition experts have recommended including a natural protein
source with each meal to slow glucose and carbohydrate absorption as an aid to
healthy weight management.

Publishing in the journal Cell, researchers from the Universite de Lyon in
France have now mapped out the signals that travel between your gut and your
brain to generate the feeling of satiety after eating a protein-rich meal.
Understanding this back and forth loop between the brain and gut may pave the
way for future approaches in the treatment and prevention of obesity.

Proteins are found to signal the brain to prevent overeating, leading to
obesity
Testing on a mouse model known to accurately simulate the digestive properties
of humans, researchers were able to determine that proteins stimulate the
secretion of glucose in the intestinal tract. The researchers charted a very
complex series of steps that ultimately notifies the brain that we have eaten
and are no longer in need of food. Digestion of fast-releasing carbohydrates or
sugars does not trigger the same feedback mechanism, and encourages excess food
consumption.

The critical finding reported by the research team was that proteins stimulate
'mu-opioid receptors' (MOR's, which also bind morphine) on nerves found in the
walls of the portal vein, the major blood vessel that drains blood from the
gut. Researchers found that peptides, the products of digested dietary
proteins, block MOR's to curb appetite. The peptides send signals to the brain
that are then transmitted back to the gut to stimulate the intestine to release
glucose and suppress the desire to eat.

The lead study author, Dr. Gilles Mithieux concluded "These findings explain
the satiety effect of dietary protein, which is a long-known but unexplained
phenomenon... they provide a novel understanding of the control of food intake
and of hunger sensations, which may offer novel approaches to treat obesity in
the future." Nutritionists recommend consuming a natural source of protein with
each meal and avoidance of sugary treats and refined carbohydrates, as well as
between meal snacks. Good sources of protein include nuts, seeds, legumes and
lean chicken, eggs and beef (always select free-range, organically fed choices
and limit to no more than ten percent of total calories consumed) to aid weight
management practices.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S009286741200760X

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/ind-te070612.php

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-protein-meal-brain-full.html

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