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Common Cooking Oil Destroys Brains!?

The AHA! Team — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 06:26:38 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – It’s cheap, flavorless, and the most popular oil in America… But it’s destroying your brain. I’m talking about cooking oil that comes from soybeans. For the past 20 years or so, clever marketers have made all kinds of outlandish health claims about soy. They tell you it’s organic, high in protein, heart-healthy, and even prevents diabetes. Sadly, the truth is that unless it’s fermented into a traditional Japanese dish called natto, soy is toxic. Studies show that soybean products are loaded with estrogen mimickers that cause erectile dysfunction, man boobs, loss of bone and muscle mass, as well as at least half a dozen different types of cancer. And scientists have known for years that soy does not prevent diabetes. In fact, it impairs insulin secretion and may actually result in diabetes.1 But even worse than soy is the oil that comes from it. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, recently revealed that cooking with soybean oil can upregulate a number of genetic switches in the hypothalamus part of the brain, and trigger a range of neurological changes that can result in:2 Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s Mood swings Anxiety Depression Schizophrenia Your body simply wasn’t designed to consume soy. Sadly, that hasn’t prevented Big Agra from pushing it on millions of unsuspecting Americans as healthy. By selling soy as a “health food,” Big Agra’s marketers have turned soybeans into America’s favorite cooking oil. And the problem is not just about cooking with soybean oil – because it is already present in dozens of commercial foods. These include most salad dressings, baked goods, and the so-called “healthy” whole-grain breads. It’s even in baby formula. The UC Riverside study also found that soybean oil could induce obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and fatty liver disease in mice. In this study, the researchers compared soybean oils to coconut oil. Then they looked at the hypothalamus of the mice. This is a small, but critical area of the brain that affects numerous body functions. The research team found that the soybean oils – but not coconut oil – caused more than 100 genes in the brain to stop working as they should. You see, soybean oil is loaded with pro-inflammatory omega-6s, which act as a metabolic poison when consumed in excess.3 Additional studies show that cooking with coconut oil produces the fewest changes in hypothalamic genes, and therefore carries the least risk of causing neurological damage.4 I recommend my patients use coconut oil every day to improve their health. Studies show the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can: Protect against heart disease5 Reduce insulin resistance6 Boost brain function in people with Alzheimer’s disease7 Reduce inflammation and arthritis8 Prevent osteoporosis9 Protect the liver10 3 Ways To Add More Coconut Oil To Your Diet Here are three ways you can get more coconut oil in your diet – and ditch soybean oil once and for all… Fry with it. Coconut oil has a high smoke point. That means that it won’t degrade at high temperatures — leaving all the fatty acids intact. It’s especially great for pan searing. If you do cook with it, consider getting it without flavor. This is known as “expeller-pressed” coconut oil. Make a smoothie. Scoop a healthy serving of coconut oil (it’ll probably be solid, but that’s okay) into the blender. Mix in your favorite fresh fruits. Maybe even add some protein powder. Add organic milk and a little ice. Blend it all and enjoy a tasty, heart-healthy smoothie. Take it to go. This delicious and healthy trail mix is great for people on the go. Here’s how to make it… Ingredients: 1 cup almonds 1 cup cashews ¼ cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes ¼ cup coconut oil (melted) ½ cup raw honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp Himalayan pink salt 1 cup dried fruit (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 275 F. Place the almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes in a food processor or blender. Pulse a few times to break into chunks. Place the coconut oil, raw honey, and vanilla extract in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and allow to melt. Stir to combine, then add the ground nut mixture. Stir until everything is fully coated. Spread the trail mix evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned, stirring once or twice. Remove from the oven, add the dried fruit, and sprinkle with sea salt. Press the mixture together firmly to form a tight, flat surface. Cool for 20-30 minutes or until fully hardened. Break into chunks. Store it in an airtight container. It will keep for up to a week. References: Deol P, et al. “Soybean oil is more obesogenic and diabetogenic than coconut oil and fructose in mouse: potential role for the liver.” PLoS One. 2015 Jul 22;10(7):e0132672. Deol P, et al. “Dysregulation of hypothalamic gene expression and the oxytocinergic system by soybean oil diets in male mice.” Endocrinology. 2020; 161(2). Patterson, E et al. “Health implications of high dietary omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.” J Nutr Metab. 2012:539426. Deol P, et al. “Dysregulation of Hypothalamic gene expression and the oxytocinergic system by soybean oil diets in male mice.” Endocrinology. February 2020. 161(2). Khaw KT, et al. “Randomised trial of coconut oil, olive oil or butter on blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men and women.” BMJ Open. 2018;(8)3:e020167. Han JR, et al. “Effects of dietary medium-chain triglyceride on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in a group of moderately overweight free-living type 2 diabetic Chinese subjects.” Metabolism. 2007;56(7):985-991. De la Rubia Orti JE, et al. “Improvement of main cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease after treatment with coconut-oil enriched Mediterranean diet: A pilot study.” J Alzheimer’s Dis. July 20, 2018. Vysakh A, et al. “Polyphenolics isolated from virgin coconut oil inhibits adjuvant induced arthritis in rats through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.” Int Immunopharmacol. 2014;20(1):124-130. Hayatullina Z, et al. “Virgin coconut oil supplementation prevents bone loss in osteoporosis rat model.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:237236. Otuechere CA, et al. “Virgin coconut oil protects against liver damage in albino rats challenged with the anti-folate combination, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.”.J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2014;25(2):249-253. To read the original article click here.

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Plant-Based Diet Rich in Soy Reduces Troubling Menopause Symptoms by 84%

AHA Publisher — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:00:49 +0000

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine via News-Medical – A new study, published by the North American Menopause Society in the journal Menopause, found a plant-based diet rich in soy reduces moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84%, from nearly five per day to fewer than one per day. During the 12-week study, nearly 60% of women became totally free of moderate-to-severe hot flashes. Overall hot flashes (including mild ones) decreased by 79%. The study, called the WAVS trial–the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms-shows that diet changes can be much more powerful for treating hot flashes than scientists had thought. Vasomotor symptoms refer to night sweats, hot flashes, and flushes. The study used no hormone medications or extracts. Instead, the research team tested a combination of a low-fat plant-based diet plus 1/2 cup of ordinary soybeans added to a salad or soup each day. “This is a game changer for women aged 45 and over, most of whom we now know can get prompt relief from the most severe and troubling menopause symptoms without drugs,” says lead researcher Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee and adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine. As many as 80% of postmenopausal women suffer from hot flashes. Heat wells up from the chest, causing flushing, sweating, and chills. At night, hot flashes interfere with sleep. Estrogen-based medications were once routinely used to treat hot flashes but have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer and other serious problems. Isoflavoneextracts from soybeans work only modestly, leaving women and their doctors with few effective options. Study Details Postmenopausal women reporting two or more hot flashes per day were randomly assigned to either an intervention group–consisting of a low-fat, vegan diet, including half a cup of cooked soybeans daily–or to a control group that made no diet changes for 12 weeks. Frequency and severity of hot flashes were recorded using a mobile application, and vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL). Each participant was given a digital self-calibrating scale to track body weight day by day, a mobile app to track hot flashes in real time, and an Instant Pot to prepare soybeans at home. Each week, the group got together with the research team via Zoom. “Previous studies have shown that soy could be beneficial, so we decided to put a diet change to the test. We believe that the combination is what is important. By the end of the study, the majority of women on a plant-based diet rich in soy reported that they no longer experienced moderate-to-extreme hot flashes at all and that they experienced significant improvements in their quality of life.” Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, study author, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee Key Findings Total hot flashes decreased by 79% and moderate-to-severe hot flashes decreased by 84% in the intervention group. At the study’s conclusion, 59% of intervention-group participants reported becoming free of moderate and severe hot flashes. There was no change in this variable in the control group. In previous randomized trials, soy products have been shown to modestly reduce the frequency of hot flashes. The researchers theorize that the effect may be a result of soy products containing isoflavones, which can be metabolized by gut bacteria into equol–a nonsteroidal compound that has been shown in some studies to reduce the incidence and severity of hot flashes. Previous studies have also shown that those following vegetarian or vegan diets produce higher levels of equol. The new study showed a more robust response, using the combination of a plant-based diet plus soy. Many study participants also reported improvements in sexual symptoms, mood, and overall energy. “This was basically a lifesaver for me,” said one study participant. “I’ve got my quality of life back.” Another said, “I am sleeping better, and my hot flashes diminished tremendously.” Several participants also noticed significant weight loss and better digestion. “Before you jump to any kind of medication, I would try this route, because it’s easy,” a study participant said. “Anybody can do it.” The study was based on the new approach to menopausal symptoms described by Dr. Barnard in his book Your Body in Balance. After the book was released in 2020, a reader contacted Dr. Barnard to let him know that his method eliminated her hot flashes within five days. Rather than using isoflavone extracts or soy foods such as soy milk or tofu, she used whole soybeans. To read the original article click here.

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