Curb Hunger Pangs with This Oil

Here's a snack that ought to stop you from, well, snacking: whole-grain bread dipped in olive oil.

That's because olive oil is rich in a special appetite-controlling kind of fat. Wow, a fat that may help with weight control! That's something to write home about.

Getting the Message
Olive oil contains oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. Upon reaching the small intestine, oleic acid triggers the production of oleoylethanolamide (OEA), another fatty substance. OEA then finds its way to nerve endings that carry a hunger-curbing message to the brain. And that message is loud and clear: "Hey. Stop eating! You're full!!" Researchers are hoping that new appetite-suppressing drugs using OEA will be developed to reduce obesity. (Get the skinny on why belly fat is so bad for your health -- and how to lose yours.)

More Ways to Eat Less
Taking too many trips to the fridge? Stop yourself in your tracks with these tips:

• Work out an appetite. With regular aerobic exercise, you may consume fewer calories. Here's why. New to exercise? Try this beginner workout video.
• Fire up your omelet. Adding a little red pepper to your morning egg whites could decrease food intake later in the day. Find out how pepper stunts hunger messages.
• Munch on apples or pears or any fiber-rich fruits or veggies with a high water content. They help fill you up for relatively few calories -- so you eat less overall. See what your daily fiber dose should be.

When's the best time to eat a healthful fat like olive oil? Find out here -- and get delicious recipes that help you do it.

The lipid messenger OEA links dietary fat intake to satiety. Schwartz, G. J. et al., Cell Metabolism 2008 Oct;8(4):281-288.