Scientists provide proof that the consumption of dietary fat containing oleic acid (high in olive oil) triggers the release in your small intestine of a compound called oleoylethanolamide (OEA). OEA sends hunger-curbing messages to your brain, which can help to reduce appetite so you want to eat less food. On top of that, OEA helps form memories, especially those associated with emotions.

In essence, OEA is a key molecule that helps transform short term happenings into long term memory. The researchers showed that giving OEA to animals specifically boosted their memory.

Until our modern times of overindulgence, foods containing fat were a major prize. It now appears that it is programmed into your survival wiring to remember when and where you got a tasty high fat meal. This aspect of the issue had more usefulness in times gone by, and certainly explains why feast and other social means tend to be higher in fat.

It also means that having a moderate amount of olive oil in your diet is not only likely to help you eat fewer calories, it is likely to help your memory in general.

In general, our society is too paranoid about the subject of fat. Healthy fatty foods in moderation are not a problem and are certainly to be included in the Leptin Diet. Diets with high levels of junk fat and refined carbohydrates are to be avoided. Low fat diets are hard to follow and not very healthy.