Discovery writes that the olive oil craze has grown as studies continue to reveal its numerous health benefits. When researchers first began looking into why people in the Mediterranean region are generally healthier and have a longer life expectancy than others, they discovered that this was largely a result of their healthy diet. And, it is believed their that diet is so healthy because of their heavy consumption of olive oil. In a news release on Marcch 14, 2013, Technische Universität München has reported, Olive oil makes you feel full.
As reduced-fat food products are gaining in popularity, more and more people have been choosing “light” products in an attempt to lose weight, or at least with the hope that they will not gain any pounds. However, whether these products are effective or not is a matter of dispute, because even though they contain fewer calories, people tend to overcompensate by eating more if they do not feel full. A recent study has shown how “natural” oils and fats regulate the sensation of feeling full after eating, with olive oil leading the way.
Research groups at Technische Universität München (TUM) under Professor Peter Schieberle and at the University of Vienna under Prof. Veronika Somoza studied the satiety effects of olive oil. Schieberle has said, “Olive oil had the biggest satiety effect. The olive oil group showed a higher concentration of the satiety hormone serotonin in their blood. Subjectively speaking, these participants also reported that they found the olive oil yogurt very filling.” During the study period, none of the members of this group recorded an increase in their body fat percentage or their weight.
