Care2 Healthy Living/Michelle Schoffro Cook: The Cooking Oil that Could Damage Your Memory and Cause Weight Gain

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The Cooking Oil that Could Damage Your Memory and Cause Weight Gain
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    By: Michelle Schoffro Cook
    January 5, 2018

    About Michelle
    Follow Michelle at @mschoffrocook

When we think of dementia, most people think of aging, brain injury or a symptom of a brain disease. Few people consider their cooking oil as a culprit in memory loss or dementia, but research suggests maybe we should look no further than our frying pan or baking sheet. That’s because the oil we use to make our food tastier or make our baked goods moist may actually be harming our brain.

New research published in the medical journal Nature says that’s exactly what we should consider. The study found that canola oil aggravated memory problems and caused weight gain during the 6-month study period. Sadly, canola oil is perhaps the most commonly-used cooking oil and is readily used in the fast food and food processing industry as well. And, even people who think they are avoiding canola usually eat it in their vegetable oil, which tends to be a blend of oils with canola making up the largest amount.

In the study, mice with Alzheimer’s experience an aggravation of memory problems when they consumed canola oil. Canola oil is high in Omega 6s, which in small amounts are fine but in the ratio in which most people consume them can lead to excessive inflammation. Nutrition experts disagree on the exact ratio that is best and perhaps that’s because there is a wide variety of people with different nutritional needs. But, overall, most nutritionists would agree that a 20:1 ratio of Omega 3 fatty acids to Omega 6 fatty acids is better than the 1:30 ratio most people consume, heavily favoring Omega 6s.

Additionally, canola is a heavily genetically modified crop. A growing body of research is linking glyphosate—one of the main pesticides used on food crops—to inflammation and other health issues. Inflammation has been linked to brain disorders and many other chronic health conditions. Few studies have actually been conducted on the brain effects of canola, and I’m unaware of any that specifically examine the difference between non-GMO canola and GMO canola, probably because almost all canola is now genetically-modified so it would be difficult to find non-GMO canola to carry out such a study. Canola may have been a healthy food to consume at one point no longer seems like a good option, particularly if you care about your brain health and memory.
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Canola oil hides in many foods so you’ll want to start reading package labels. Additionally, be aware of these foods:

-Vegetable oil

-Margarine

-Fast Food

-Packaged, Prepared and Processed Foods—read ingredient lists on the packaged foods you buy and you’ll undoubtedly be surprised by just how many foods contain canola or rapeseed oil, which are the same.

-Salad Dressings—almost all commercially-prepared and even most restaurant salad dressings use canola or a vegetable oil with canola as the base. Considering how simple it is to put olive oil and balsamic or apple cider vinegar in a jar (in a ratio of about 2:1) and add a little salt, pepper, or sweetener to make a homemade salad dressing, is there really any reason to eat most commercial salad dressings anyway?

- Prepared Foods at the Grocery Store—Most of the deli salad and other foods at your grocery store food items almost always contain canola oil.

-Baked Goods—Both breads and pastries alike are typically made with canola oil so be sure to read the label. If there’s no ingredient list it is best to avoid the item.
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Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is the publisher of the free e-news World’s Healthiest News, the Cultured Cook, president of ScentsationalWellness, and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: The Cultured Cook: Delicious Fermented Foods with Probiotics to Knock Out Inflammation, Boost Gut Health, Lose Weight & Extend Your Life.


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94 comments
Rosslyn O
Rosslyn O25 minutes ago

I have had canola oil when it first came out in Australia, and Ruth R I did already know that is was the same Rape Seed that I was feeding to our bird mix. But after that bottle was completed and I started to read about Monsanto in South Aust fighting to continue to use GM seed and destroyed an organic farmer, I never touched the stuff again. We only use Olive oil, and I will only purchase brands in glass bottles. Never use margarine either, so I guess we've been spared somewhat ...LOL
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Debbi Wood
Debbi W2 hours ago

I've never bought canola oil but will check a few labels to see if it's lurking in other food.
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Ruth Rakotomanga
Ruth Rakotomanga3 hours ago

Never buy canola oil; interesting to learn that canola and rapeseed are the same thing. We live and learn.
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Anne F
Anne F3 hours ago

time to read up and figure out how to make popcorn without canola oil
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Veronica B
Veronica B4 hours ago

Thanks for the very important info!!!
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Mona M
Mona M4 hours ago

less cooking oil or no oil at all is the secret of a better health.
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Janet B
Janet B4 hours ago

Thanks
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Andrea S
Andrea S5 hours ago

coconut oil, olive oil n butter all the way baybay!!!
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Naomi D
Naomi Dreyer6 hours ago

Hmmmmm
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Angeles Madrazo
Angeles M6 hours ago

Ooooops! Thank you
SEND
view all 94 comments
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