Trans Fats-Brain Damage Link Suggested By New Study On Nutrient Levels:
Trans Fats-Brain Damage Link Suggested By New Study On Nutrient Levels
'via Blog this'
Oregon Brain Aging Study scientist, Dr. Gene Bowman looks at nutrient levels in experiment subjects' blood and finds out for himself what they have eaten in the last few weeks.
Bowman has published several studies that have demonstrated that blood levels of many nutrients are well correlated with a subject's diet over a period of about a year.
In his neurological research, he's focused on nutrients that are known to be found at relatively high levels in spinal fluid and brain tissue.
His latest study, "Nutrient biomarker patterns, cognitive function, and MRI measures of brain aging," published in the Dec. 28 issue of Neurology, found some striking patterns relating what people eat to how their brains function.
Bowman found that people with high plasma levels of B vitamins and vitamins D, E and C had more total brain volume and better overall cognitive functioning. Additionally, people with higher levels of marine Omega-3 fatty acids running through their bloodstreams were found to have better executive function.
Bowman was quick to note that the study was conducted using data from just 100 people, all elderly, all living in Oregon, and all Caucasian. And he stated these positive trends were relatively minor. The pattern was so striking that Bowman said it was worth taking seriously despite the size of the study.
Bowman said that the most striking correlation found in the study was that people with high levels of trans fats in their blood had significantly worse cognitive performance and less total brain volume. In other words, the study indicated that eating foods high in trans fats -- mostly junk food, like processed pastries and fatty red meats –- may cause brain damage.
Message: Look at the ingredients; if there's vegetable shortening, partially hydrogenated anything... just put it down. Ban all Junk Foods from your diet as a precaution.
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