Why Winter Snacks Might Make You Gain Weight Faster   

• Craving cookies, chips, or burgers on a cold winter day? A new study suggests these comfort foods might lead to faster weight gain in winter than in other seasons, and it has to do with how our bodies read seasonal signals. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that plants naturally adjust their fat composition throughout the year. In summer, they produce more saturated fats, signaling animals to store energy. In winter, they create more unsaturated fats, which help the body burn energy. Humans evolved in sync with these seasonal shifts, conserving energy in summer and using it in winter. But today, humans have year-round access to processed foods such as fried snacks and baked goods that contain artificial saturated fats. The study found that a protein in the body called PER2 responds to these fats by sending a “summer signal,” prompting fat storage even in winter. In experiments, mice on high-fat diets became seasonally “confused” and less active during long winter nights. Scientists say this mismatch between diet and season could make winter snacking riskier for weight gain. They advise choosing foods rich in healthy, unsaturated fats, such as nuts, fish, and avocados, to help your body’s natural rhythm stay balanced through the colder months. J.K. Park Staff Reporter junior/1763605211/1613368089