Can a slice of bread and olive oil before dinner help you eat less? I was stunned when I heard Oprah’s favorite doctor, Dr. Oz preach this idea on her show today. Now listen, I’ve downed plenty of bread and dipping olive oil when eating at restaurants and can always find room for a whole dinner on top of that.
How would a little snack before hand make any difference? I found info on both the Men’s Health Magazine website and Oprah’s site as well. Men’s Health Magazine says-
“olive oil stimulates the release of cholecystokinin, a gut hormone that signals the brain to stop eating”.
What do you think? Both sites say to let a slice of whole wheat bread soak in about 2 teaspoons of olive oil and consume 15-20 minutes before dinner. Personally, I’d hate to rely on oil soaked bread as part of my daily dinner routine. What else would I be prone to soak in fatty oil later? The tips and tricks I thrive on placing good foods close to where I’d see them, and eating slowly to evaluate when my body says I’m full.
Besides, as I’ve learned from my first course at restaurants, just because you feel full, doesn’t mean you’re full on good food. If having sopping bread will make me eat less of my salad or stir-fry, what’s the point?
Any readers interested in taking the plunge, in the spirit of science?
3 comments:
Hey Dana,
Thanks for this post - I hadn't heard and I love Doc Oz - in the middle of his latest book, "YOU Staying Young, how to extend your warranty".
And thanks for your question, too. From my research, everyone needs a certain amount of healthy oil in their diet (25%) - and apparently olive oil is one of the best (flax would be a contender for the title).
They are best consumed cold, so dipping some whole wheat bread in it before a meal makes sense to me.
This is the first time I've heard that oil suppresses appetite but off the top of my head, olive oil raises your good cholesterol (which keeps the heart healthy) and it has anticarcinogetic properties (so it helps protect against cancer).
And the omega oils are a whole other ball of wax - they are high in mood enhancers!
Steph-
Thanks for your comment! I'm glad I could bring you some new Dr. Oz information before you heard it else where.
Good points about the olive oil being good for you. It is one of the healthiest out there, but it is still oil.
I've started putting this one to the test myself, and I'm eager to see how it turns out. If you're trying it too, make sure to email me a write up of your results and I'll include it with mine in a future post.
I heard this, too. So, I tried it, except I added minced garlic. MUCH better! And, garlic is good for you. Unfortunately, I don't find it filling. In fact, I could eat several slices of 100% whole wheat bread dipped in this olive oil-garlic mixture! :-) But, alas I'm trying to limit myself to one piece.
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