Eating spinach decreases cravings for more food, which prevents one from overeating and helps lose weight, a new study finds.
Overeating coupled with cravings for fast food has given rise to a serious obesity epidemic across the United States. A new study finds that spinach may work as a solution to this problem. The study was conducted by researchers from Lund University in Sweden.
"Our analyses show that having a drink containing thylakoids before breakfast reduces cravings and keeps you feeling more satisfied all day," said Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson, Professor of Medicine and Physiological Chemistry at Lund University, in a press statement.
The 3-month study was conducted in 38 overweight women. The participants were made to drink a glass of a green beverage every morning before breakfast. Half the participants were given 5 grams of spinach extracts and the other half was given a placebo. However, the participants weren't aware of what they were drinking. Along with the drink, they were also instructed to eat a balanced diet including three meals a day and not to go on any other diet.
"In the study, the control group lost an average of 3.5 kg while the group that was given thylakoids lost 5 kg. The thylakoid group also found that it was easier to stick to three meals a day -- and they did not experience any cravings," said Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson.
Researchers noted that spinach has thylakoids which reinforces the body's production of satiety hormones and suppresses hedonic hunger, which leads to better appetite control, healthier eating habits and increased weight loss. This decreases hedonic hunger by up to 95 percent and increases weight loss by 43 percent.
"It is about making use of the time it takes to digest our food. There is nothing wrong with our digestive system, but it doesn't work well with the modern 'pre-chewed' food. The thylakoids extend digestion, producing a feeling of satiety. This means that we are able to stick to the diet we are meant for without snacks and unnecessary foods like sweets, crisps and such," said Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson.
