What foods to eat to make you feel full

It has long been known that some foods trick the brain into feeling full, but scientists have never been clear about the chemical pathways that are involved.

Now, researchers at the University of Warwick have identified an appetite-regulating brain cell that switches on immediately when certain foods are consumed. Using fluorescent tagging, the team discovered that the brain cells, known as tanycytes, are activated within 30 seconds of certain amino acids touching the tongue.

The finding suggests that people seeking to lose weight should eat the high protein foods that are rich in these key amino acids – including pork shoulder, chicken, mackerel, lentils and almonds – and it could lead to the development of new appetite suppressant drugs that target tanycytes.