Dr. Ben Bikman explains how different types of fats affect GLP-1, the gut hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite. Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats trigger different GLP-1 responses in your body.
GLP1 is the most famous gut hormone, and in fact, at this point, it's really one of the most famous hormones total. And for good reason. GLP1 does have myriad metabolic benefits. Most especially, it helps control appetite by not only activating satiety centers in the brain, but also slowing down the rate at which food moves through the intestines. I want to share with you the results of a study, this one here published a number of years ago. This was an interesting study because it tested not only the response to a baked potato, but it also most interestingly looked at different fats. Saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and then polyunsaturated fat from refined seed oil. And then the others were lard and olive oil. Now, interestingly, the fat had a differential effect. Saturated and monounsaturated fats had a much higher GLP one response. In fact, in the case of saturated, almost double what they saw in the polyunsaturated fat. The potato alone had no effect. Interestingly, when the fat was consumed with the potato, it also had no effect. The presence of the baked potato totally negated the GLP one response that normally came from eating the fat. Now, I'm not suggesting we should eat fat alone, but it's noteworthy to look at the different responses to the body to these different fats and starches.
