A study of protein-munching rats has shown a low-carbohydrate diet sparks a chain of biological events that ultimately curbs hunger.
According to French researchers, protein -- the staple of many weight-loss regimens -- appears to increase glucose production in the small intestine. Its rise is monitored by the liver, then registered by the brain. In turn, the brain sends out an "all full" message, cutting back on the drive to eat more.