Posted by rca on December 28, 2012, at 9:14:39
In reply to Re: High fat diet -) inflammation -) depression » rca, posted by larryhoover on December 27, 2012, at 15:19:59
On obesity: Of course one can be thin or overweight on a preponderance of protein, fat, or carbohydrates in our diet, depending upon the quantities involved (disregarding other effects than weight gain/ loss, like morbidity and mortality). Whole food plant based diet contains a lot of water and fiber so the tendency is to eat fewer calories to reach satiety.
But there may be more involved than that. Since this thread features gut flora, consider this: Our good gut bacteria, while technically unable to digest fiber, can break it down to an extent to make a compound called propionate which is absorbed into our blood stream. What does propionate do? Well, it inhibits cholesterol synthesis and it has a hypophagic effect meaning it helps us eat less. Apparently it does this by slowing down the rate at which our food empties from our stomachs thereby making us feel fuller, longer. Propionate may be able to regulate food intake or the generation of new fat cells, resulting in an overall anti-obesity effect.
Arora T, Sharma R, Frost G. Propionate. Anti-obesity and satiety enhancing factor? Appetite. 2011 Apr;56(2):511-5.
poster:rca
thread:1033371
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20121217/msgs/1034059.html