Omega-3s Take On Dementia
It’s Omega-3 Day here at Modern Forager. Here’s another article that I found, this one declaring that Eating Fish, Omega-3 Oils, Fruits And Veggies Lowers Risk Of Memory Problems.
A diet rich in fish, omega-3 oils, fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, whereas consuming omega-6 rich oils could increase chances of developing memory problems, according to a new study.
Isn’t it ironic that the very oils we’re told to consume, omega-6 rich polyunsaturated vegetable oils (peanut, corn, soy, etc), are contributors to mental decline? It’s not incredibly surprising if you put the consumption of such oils into the context of evolution. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils have only been possible in the last century or so when we could press huge quantities of grains like corn to get the extremely small amount of oil. Our ancestors never ate corn oil. They weren’t eating olive oil either, but an olive is a naturally oily, fatty fruit. As Ray Peat discusses here, polyunsaturated fats are immunosuppressive.
Anyway, here’s the skinny:
The study found people who regularly consumed omega-3 rich oils, such as canola oil, flaxseed oil and walnut oil, reduced their risk of dementia by 60 percent compared to people who did not regularly consume such oils. People who ate fruits and vegetables daily also reduced their risk of dementia by 30 percent compared to those who didn’t regularly eat fruits and vegetables.
The study also found people who ate fish at least once a week had a 35-percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and 40-percent lower risk of dementia, but only if they did not carry the gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s, called apolipoprotein E4, or ApoE4.
Eat more fish. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Stick to olive, coconut, and palm oils rather than those listed though. As we’ve discussed, ALA isn’t a good source of omega-3s for humans. Grains are omega-6 factories, so avoid them. Is it just me or does that sound like an Paleo-friendly diet?
About Scott
Scott Kustes loves to cook and loves to eat. He started Real Food University to help you get maximum enjoyment out of the meals that you eat. To find out more about how he has rebelled against the fast food culture and counting calories or carbs, join the Real Food Revolution.
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