We all know how detrimental fatty foods are to our health. Usually, chips, popcorn, sandwiches, burgers and other fast foods are avoided more by the ladies since they do not reflect well on their figure. However, it turns out that it is not women that need to worry so much, but men.
Burgers, donuts and toast are vastly more harmful for the male brain, informs ABC, citing a new American study done on lab mice.
According to the scientists, fatty foods lead to inflammation of the brain in male mice, while this is not seen in female individuals since they are protected by estrogen.
Researchers at the medical center of the University of Texas took up this study because a previous experiment of theirs, carried out with male animals revealed that inflammation of the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that affects energy balance) was caused by the palmitic acid.
Palmitic acid is a fatty acid found in animal products and palm oil. It also particularly characteristic of fatty foods.
The experts wanted to check whether such a correlation could be found in female individuals. But what happened? Well, after 16 weeks of eating fatty foods, symptoms of inflammation in the brain were once again seen in the male rodents but not in the female ones. It was also evident that male rodents developed glucose intolerance more often and had problems with heart function.
The scientists managed to prove that a type of estrogen receptor protects the female individuals' brains from inflammation.
These results correspond with the claim that women facing menopause, in which there are high levels of estrogen, suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases significantly less frequently when compared to men. But when the members of the fairer sex enter menopause they become more susceptible to the effects of weight gain.
Men should not only avoid fatty foods but they are advised to reach for certain products. Tomatoes, broccoli, pears, rice and oatmeal are just one small part of the superfoods perfect for men, say experts.
