Obesity is a big problem with the current generation. With fast food being easily accessible, it is observed that more and more people, especially teenagers indulge in eating food produced at fast-food chains. The food available at these restaurants are not very healthy and nutritious, compared to home-cooked food. But unfortunately, young people tend to choose fast food over nutritious food. This has led to a rise in obesity worldwide.
While fast food may satisfy our taste buds, it is not necessarily good for our health and well-being, in general. These fatty foods like fried food can lead to health problems like obesity, high cholesterol, clogged arteries, poor gut health, etc.
But recently, a team at the University of California, Irvine, has discovered that oleic acids present in fats get converted into a memory-enhancing agent when it is broken down in the gut. There is hope that this could be a new way to treat memory-related problems. Oleoylethanolamide is the compound that is being tested to form a drug to mimic its action in the gut and control the dangerous effects of fatty foods and boost the good effects of such food.
Evidence has shown that high levels of Oleoylethanolamide, or OEA, can reduce appetite, promote weight loss and lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels too. This is because OEA is the compound present in our gut that makes us feel full after a meal, hence it can effectively lead to a reduced appetite. This makes OEA an attractive candidate for becoming a diet pill as well. This is yet to be confirmed for human subjects.
Doctors have discovered that when OEA is administered, it activates memory-enhancing signals in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for memory and emotions. When tested on animals, it showed that it improved their memory retention ability. Dr. Piomelli says there is a possible explanation to this, linked to evolution. Remembering the location and context of a fatty meal was probably an important mechanism for survival for early humans.
Although OEA present in fatty foods has helped in memory retention and makes us feel full after a meal, it can also cause cravings for fatty foods in the long term which will lead to obesity. To avoid this problem, fatty foods must be eaten in controlled proportions. Generally, whatever is good for the heart is also good for the brain. But this is not always applicable the other way around.
While OEA does have great benefits like Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride (NR) at https://www.cofttek.com/product/23111-00-4/ for the brain as shown in clinical trials, it is not yet confirmed if it has the same effects in humans, as on animals. Sufficient tests need to be done on humans to confirm its role in a healthy diet. If human trials are positive, it could be a new breakthrough in the medical world. This could be used for various treatments for diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
