Why You Can't Eat Just One

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have found that the fat we eat — specifically palmitic acid, which is found in foods such as butter, cheese, milk and beef — travels to the brain and causes a communication breakdown between our cells and the hormones leptin and insulin, which suppress appetite. In other words, our brain chemistry can change just by eating something delicious; these fatty acids make us resistant to every mechanism that tells us not to overeat. So when you’re in full-scale diet mode, remember: A little splurge can quickly lead to a big one, so think twice.