The liquid gold of the Levant
In my culture, olive oil is not just an ingredient, it is a blessing. When you pour olive oil generously over a platter of grilled vegetables or a bowl of labneh, something almost sacred happens. The surface shines, the colors intensify, and the aroma of fresh olive fills the air. But beyond the aesthetics, it is the sensation on the palate that changes everything. Natural fat envelops flavors, transports them and creates a deep satisfaction that goes far beyond simple taste.
This generosity is not an excess, it is an intelligence. Natural fats — extra virgin olive oil, clarified butter (ghee), sesame oil (tahini) — are the real drivers of satiety. They signal to our brain that we are nourished, that we have received the necessary energy. Unlike carbs that cause sharp spikes and crashes, fats provide a smooth, prolonged energy curve. They are the lubricant of the collective table, allowing the meal to last without hunger interrupting it.
The calm after the glycemic storm
A person who is truly satisfied by healthy fats is a peaceful person. She is no longer in the urgency of consumption, she is no longer a slave to her blood sugar impulses. At a table where natural fats are in the spotlight, we notice a particular calm. People talk more, laugh more, listen better. Satiety creates a space of contentment that promotes human connection. This is what I call 'shared satiation'.
This feeling of fullness is transmitted from one guest to another. We are no longer in a hurry to finish so we can have dessert or go lie down. We savor the present moment. Fat extends the table, it extends the time of sharing. By basing our meals on these dense nutrients, we transform the act of eating into a high-quality social act. We nourish our cells as much as our relationships.
The wisdom of the ancients
Ghee, or clarified butter, has been present in Levantine and Egyptian cuisines for millennia. Our ancestors knew that this stable, rich fat was essential for health and strength. This is not a new 'keto' thing, it's a forgotten tradition. We have abandoned it in favor of industrial, processed and inflammatory vegetable oils, under the influence of erroneous nutritional theories. Returning to ghee means returning to a source of purity and metabolic efficiency.
Cooking with ghee brings an incomparable nutty note and heat resistance which protects the nutrients. It is a fat that respects the body and facilitates digestion. By reintegrating these traditional fats into our daily lives, we honor the wisdom of those who came before us. We are rediscovering that nature has always given us what we need to thrive, without the need for complex chemical manipulations.
Truth versus illusion
Sugar creates a quick, intense, but completely false satisfaction. It's an illusion of food. Twenty minutes after consuming a sweet dessert or a starchy dish, the body is already asking for the next dose. It’s a cycle of anxiety and lack. Natural fat offers an honest truth. An hour after a meal rich in good oils, we still feel satisfied, stable, serene. We don't need anything else.
This contrast is obvious when we begin to observe our own reactions. Sugar tires the pancreas and fogs the mind; fat nourishes the brain and stabilizes mood. By choosing fat over sugar, we choose clarity over confusion. We choose energy that truly belongs to us, rather than excitement borrowed from the food industry.
The table can finally breathe
When you base a meal on natural fats rather than sugars, the table itself can finally breathe. There is no more rush, no more hunger anxiety, no more post-prandial crash. Just the natural flow of sharing, the joy of being together and the satisfaction of being well fed. Fat is the invisible basis of Levantine conviviality.
I invite you to no longer be afraid of quality olive oil, tahini or butter. Pour them lovingly onto your dishes, share them with those you love, and watch how your health and relationships improve. Life is too short to eat dry and sad. Beautify your table with nature's liquid gold, and let satiety guide you towards a richer, more serene existence.
