Metabolic Theory of Saturation

Metabolic theory of satiety: explaining the feeling of fullness

The metabolic theory of satiety is one of the most important theories for understanding the reasons for the feeling of fullness after eating. It is based on the assumption that the feeling of satiety arises not only due to sensations in the stomach, but also as a result of changes in the concentrations in the blood of intermediate and final metabolic products that are released during the digestion process.

One of the main elements of the metabolic theory of satiety is the theory of metabolic saturation. According to this theory, if food contains enough calories and essential nutrients, it can lead to a sharp increase in the rate at which the body releases metabolic substances such as glucose, lactate, ammonia and others. This increase in the rate of excretion can lead to a change in the concentration of these products in the blood, which is felt by the body as saturation.

Another important aspect of metabolic satiety is the properties of the food. It is important that it contains enough protein, dietary fiber and fat. These substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the body and in turn contain high concentrations of nutrients and energy. Accordingly, complex foods such as fish, nuts, fruits or vegetables rich in fiber will contain significant amounts of nutrients per gram of finished product. This fact explains the greater satiety of foods filled with nutrients compared to foods containing more empty, high-calorie "fast" carbohydrates (such as white bread or sweets).

In addition, the rate of metabolic reactions changes over time under the influence of external factors. For example, accelerated elimination of metabolic products can be caused by an increase in body temperature, physical activity, or changes in the level of hormones secreted by the endocrine system. This is why some foods may be more filling for some people than others.

While the metabolic theory of satiety is very interesting, it is also important to remember that hunger can be caused by many other factors besides the concentration of metabolites in the blood. Don't forget that the main aspect of satiety is the feeling of fullness, which comes from complete satisfaction with food, and not simply from the presence of metabolites and their effect on concentration.