Bad Fats Damage Brain Leading to Obesity

(Article first published as Bad Fat Diets Lead to Obesity on Technorati.)
Diet and exercise are the physical cues which allow our body to function, and the human brain is especially vulnerable to excessive, poor quality calories and lack of physical activity. While the brain remains protected through the blood-brain barrier, it’s still susceptible to damage by the type of foods we eat, environment and level of physical fitness.

The Brain Requires Good Fats

Our brain functions optimally when we eat a properly balanced diet of healthy Omega-3 fats. The modern diet consists of high amounts of synthetically formed trans fats, created by overheating oils for cooking and through hydrogenation to extend the shelf life of foods. When insufficient levels of Omega-3 fats are available for new cell replication, the body is forced to use damaging trans fats and metabolic damage ensues.

Bad Fats Linked to Obesity
Decades of dietary abuse is linked with metabolic dysfunction in the brain. Diets rich in artificial fats and sugars (trans fats and high fructose corn syrup) can actually alter the architecture of brain cells leading to poor circulation, lowered metabolism and damage to areas of the brain which control appetite regulation.

Research completed by the Yale Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism demonstrate that there is a predisposed genetic link in certain individuals which make them more vulnerable to altered brain function due to years of dietary abuse.

Medical researchers agree that while reversing obesity caused by metabolic brain damage can be a daunting task, weight loss is possible by reconditioning the brain through proper nutrition, aerobic exercise and targeted supplementation.

Step 1: Proper Nutrition Controls Appetite Regulation

Diet has a significant impact on brain circulation and function. Eating excessive amounts of calories manufactured in a food laboratory restricts brain circulation, leading to physical alterations in the brain which control appetite. When the brain is no longer able to read the chemical signals to stop eating, significant weight gain ensues.

The important point is that the process can be reversed by slowly transitioning to a natural diet which eliminates synthetic fats in favor of a properly balanced Omega-6 to Omega-3 fat ratio no higher than 4:1. This will allow the brain to begin the healing process as it preferentially incorporates healthy Omega-3 fats and restores metabolic balance.

Step 2: Take Your Brain Out for a Walk

Exercise is required to keep muscles toned and for insulin regulation, but regular physical activity is especially important to brain health. Exercise not only promotes healthy circulation in the brain, but also triggers the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, positively impacting spirit, and lowering risk of depression. Physical activity improves mood and provides the motivation to lose weight.

Step 3: Targeted Brain Nutrition
The brain has very specific nutritional requirements for optimal health, and specially targeted supplemental support can ensure that those needs are satisfied. At the top of the list are EPA and DHA Omega-3 fats from fish oil.

The brain prefers to use DHA for cellular construction, but will resort to inferior fats when DHA is not present. Information from the Yale research indicates that brain structure can be remodeled, assisting in weight loss, and DHA could be a critical link in the healing process.

Research shows that while obesity rates continue to escalate, our diet, fitness level and brain health are all contributors to the epidemic. Although some individuals may be genetically prone to obesity, the problem is largely caused by decades of poor diet, resulting in altered brain circulation and metabolism.

Fortunately the brain has an amazing capacity to heal, providing a solution to a problem which threatens the health of millions, and leads to natural weight loss.