Studies with rats and mice indicate that our fat-rich western diet may be impacting our ability to resist eating foods that are high in fat and loaded with sugar. Multiple studies including one published in Current Pharmaceutical Design by William A. Banks, suggest that there is a link between the fat-rich diet we eat in the west and brain-related ailments that can impact our desire to overeat.

In studies where they fed rats a diet with saturated fat and sugar levels much like a that of a western diet, they found the rats had a weakened blood-brain barrier. This barrier is a system of cells and membranes that form tight junctions which prevent harmful substances that circulate in the bloodstream from entering the brain.

According to some research studies, middle-aged, overweight and obese adults have a greater risk of developing late-life cognitive dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, when compared to people of normal weight. Even children as young as seven years of age who have too much body fat due to a western diet, may suffer certain types of memory impairments.

These deficits may weaken our ability to resist overeating. Excessive intake of a western diet may lead to hippocampal dysfunction. Our hippocampus processes internal physiological signals about our need for food. Having an impaired hippocampus would make it difficult to follow internal cues to counter eating that is triggered by cues in the environment. A weakened ability could lead to more eating and then more deterioration of hippocampal function.

Michelle Hoffman is a Holistic Health Coach who can help you change your eating habits. She can be reached at 321-652-0660 or OptimumHealthandHealing.coachleads.com.