Works like a weight loss injection: How to reduce cravings for sweet and fatty foods

The health benefits were particularly evident when processed meats were replaced with nuts, vegetables and whole grains, eggs with nuts and butter with olive oil. But what exactly makes a plant-based diet so healthy? It’s the beneficial plant compounds they contain, Qi Sun, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard University who was not involved in the study, told the New York Times. These compounds, such as isoflavones, are antioxidants that can reduce inflammation.

In addition, plant foods contain fats and fiber, which support heart health and help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes, Sun said.

Dietary fiber satisfies and promotes intestinal health

Dietary fiber is a fiber-rich, indigestible component of plant foods. It increases the volume of food, prolongs the time it stays in the stomach and thus contributes to a lasting feeling of satiety.

Furthermore, dietary fiber supports intestinal health. According to the Baden-Württemberg State Center for Nutrition, it reaches the large intestine undigested and serves as food for certain beneficial intestinal bacteria. Due to this property, indigestible dietary fiber is also called “prebiotics.” The beneficial bacteria break it down into short-chain fatty acids, which regulate appetite and help the body produce energy.

In addition, fiber can also have a positive effect on brain function. This was shown by a study by the University Medical Center Leipzig, the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research.

In this study, 59 young adults who were slightly overweight and ate meat consumed 30 grams of inulin, a fiber found in chicory, onions and artichokes, among other things, every day for 14 days. This corresponds to the maximum daily amount that most people consume, according to the Bavarian Consumer Center.

During the study, participants were shown pictures of high-calorie food at different times: before and after taking inulin and before and after a placebo phase. The brain reactions to the images were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging. After the experiment, the subjects were asked to choose their preferred meal, which was then served to them.

The result was that the subjects showed less interest in fatty or sweet foods after consuming inulin. Normally, foods rich in fat and carbohydrates trigger a strong activation of the brain’s reward system. But after inulin intake, the associated brain areas were significantly less active. The researchers also found that the composition of the intestinal bacteria had changed.

“The results suggest a potential link between gut health and brain function, in this case eating decisions,” said Veronica Witte, co-author of the study and scientist at the University Medical Center Leipzig, according to the press release.

It is believed that fiber such as inulin acts in a similar way to the active ingredient semaglutide, which is contained in the weight-loss injections Wegovy and Ozempic and acts in the hypothalamus and brain stem, which are responsible for food intake. Semaglutide increases the feeling of satiety and reduces the feeling of hunger.

However, researcher Witte emphasizes that further studies are needed to explore new treatments for obesity based on changes in the microbiome. A follow-up study is currently being conducted to investigate the long-term intake of inulin.