Consuming olive oil before carbohydrates helps control blood sugar in mice

Consuming fat before carbohydrates reduces the sharp rise in blood sugar that typically follows a meal, ScienceDaily reported. In a recent study, scientists observed that administering olive oil to mice prior to carbohydrate intake slowed the rate of digestion. This specific sequence helped regulate blood glucose levels, even in mouse models affected by type 2 diabetes. [1]

The researchers discovered that the pre-meal fat intake triggered a specific combination of gut hormones and nerve signals. Biologically, the process of eating initiates both mechanical and chemical breakdown in the digestive system to allow nutrient absorption into the bloodstream. Signals from the gut are integrated by regulatory centers in the brain, including the hypothalamus, to assist in balancing metabolic stability. [1][3]

A healthy diet requires adequate water, fiber, food energy, macronutrients such as protein, and micronutrients such as vitamins to maintain overall physical health. The new findings show that altering the sequence of nutrient intake within a meal may provide a non-pharmacological method to help prevent postprandial blood sugar spikes. [1][2]