Olive oil may hold the key to weight loss

PAUL TAYLOR From Friday's Globe and Mail A"good" fat found in abundance in olive oil may provide one of the keys to appetite control and weight loss. Oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat, suppresses hunger pangs and so can help prevent snacking between meals, according to researchers at the University of California, Irvine. In a study involving lab mice, the researchers found that when oleic acid reaches the small intestine it is converted into a hormone called oleoylethanolamide, or OEA. This hormone, in turn, sends hunger-dampening signals to the brain. That means you can go longer without eating. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, could open up new strategies for helping people lose weight, said Daniele Piomelli, who led the research effort. Dr. Piomelli noted that previous studies have found that... [read full story]