PUFAs and Weight Gain

Keto people will say carbs make you fat.

Exercise gurus will say it’s a lack of exercise.

Modern doctors point the finger at cholesterol.

The truth is, these things don’t apply to everyone.

There are plenty of people who eat carbs, don't exercise regularly, and aren't afraid of cholesterol, yet remain slim and healthy.

It’s inaccurate to say that these factors are universally pro-weight gain.

However, over thousands of years of evolution, nature has designed one specific ingredient to fatten up all mammals.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll dive into this ingredient and how it affects all of us, regardless of genetic differences.

Mammals and Winter Survival Adaptations

Millions of years ago, mammals evolved from their reptilian ancestors.

Their biggest challenge was surviving the cold winter.

To overcome this obstacle, they developed adaptations such as thermoregulation (the ability to maintain a stable body temperature) and fur.

However, the most crucial adaptation they developed was the ability to store fat. This allowed mammals to insulate their bodies and store nutrients for the winter months.

As soon as autumn begins, mammals know it’s time to turn this adaptation “on.” They start preparing for winter and do everything they can to get fat.

What do they do exactly?

They feast on nuts and seeds, foods high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs act as a signal, telling their bodies that it’s time to start packing on pounds.

We can learn a lot about this process by looking at squirrels.

Squirrels and Acorns

According to Brad Marshall, a molecular biologist, all mammal metabolisms essentially work the same way (How To Fatten A Mammal, on Brad’s youtube).

This means that by looking at how squirrels eat in the fall, we can understand how PUFAs influence fat storage in humans.

Oak trees and squirrels have a symbiotic relationship. Squirrels help oak trees survive by spreading their seeds, while oak trees provide squirrels with the nutrients they need to survive the winter.

It's a win-win situation that has evolved over millions of years.

From the perspective of an oak tree, you want to make your squirrel friends fat.

That way, they have a better chance of surviving the winter and spreading your seeds in the spring.

So, what do oak trees put in their acorns to achieve this?

PUFAs. 46% of an acorn’s calories come from fat, a significant portion being PUFAs.

The effects of this PUFA-rich diet on squirrels are very telling. In a study on red squirrels, researchers found that their body weight increased by 10% in the fall when their diet consisted of 90% acorns.

Then, in the summer, their acorn consumption dropped to 50-63% and they returned to their normal weight and were lean once again.

This fluctuation in body weight shows us that PUFAs trigger the squirrels' fat storage.

By gorging on these nuts in the fall, squirrels can get fat quickly, giving them what they need to make it through the winter.

How Does This Work in Humans?

PUFAs are like messengers in our bodies that activate receptors related to fat storage.

PUFAs activate Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs), which cause a preference for lipogenesis (converting carbohydrates to fatty acids) over burning carbs for energy.

Interestingly, PUFAs enhance this pathway more than saturated fats under similar conditions.

PUFAs also influence the activity of certain enzymes involved in fat metabolism, such as SCD1 and delta-6-desaturase.

These enzymes help convert fatty acids into forms that can be stored or incorporated into cell membranes.

When we consume a diet high in PUFAs, we essentially give these enzymes a boost.

This leads to increased production of triglycerides and ultimately more fat storage in our bodies.

What You Can Do About It

Many foods contain PUFAs, such as oils, nuts, and seeds.

However, this doesn’t make them pro-obesity. Humans have been consuming nuts and seeds for a long time, and moderate amounts can be beneficial (such as black seed, which I wrote about here).

However, you should avoid their ultra-processed counterparts.

Seed Oils are nearly 50% PUFA. Not only that, but they’re loaded with other toxins like hexane. Instead, use healthy oils (olive, avocado, coconut) and animal fats (butter, ghee, tallow).

Conventional pork and chicken also contain large amounts of PUFA. Their diets contain lots of PUFA, and unlike ruminants, they store PUFA directly in their fat. Instead, go for pasture/regeneratively raised pork and chicken, fed cleaner diets.

While the science may seem complicated, eating healthy is as simple as being thoughtful about what you put in your body.

Always choose ingredients raised with care over cheap food made for profit.

Until next time,

Kashif Khan

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your regular health care provider.