Fat has twice the calories of carbohydrates, so how can eating fats help you lose weight? During metabolism, your body breaks down foods in chemical processes that release energy. Other reactions capture this energy and store it as fat, glycogen, or energy forms the cells can use very rapidly (ATP and creatine phosphate). The body can burn off excess energy by turning on chemicals called uncoupling proteins (UCPs). These cause your metabolism to lose energy as heat rather than storing it. Spanish researchers showed that rats given olive oil-a monounsaturated fat-increased the activity of UCPs in fat and muscle tissue, which increased their metabolic rates. Olive oil is a central part of the Mediterranean diet, which is also high in lean meats, fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Many studies show that this diet promotes health and helps fight obesity. The effects of olive oil on UCPs may explain why the Mediterranean diet works so well. (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 75: 213-220, 2002)
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