Canola Oil Can Harm Your Brain- Finds Study

All this while we had heard that canola oil is good for one's health, but, a new research has come out with some startling facts that will just blow your mind.

According to the study, consuming two tablespoons of canola oil daily may worsen memory, learning ability as well as cause weight gain in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Canola oil, is basically a vegetable oil derived from rapeseed.
For the study, mice was fed with canola oil-enriched diet and weighed significantly more than mice on the regular diet.

Consuming canola oil for over a period of six months also led to impairments in working memory. Additionally, maze tests showed that short-term memory, and learning ability also suffered damages.

The study, conducted on mice, suggested that the long term consumption of the vegetable oil which is often promoted as a healthy cooking oil may actually harm the brain.

Moreover, brain tissues from the mice on canola diet revealed that these animals had greatly reduced levels of amyloid beta 1-40.

Amyloid beta 1-40 is the more soluble form of the amyloid beta proteins and is generally considered to serve a beneficial role in the brain. It acts as a buffer for the more harmful insoluble form, amyloid beta 1-42.

"Amyloid beta 1-40 neutralises the actions of amyloid 1-42, which means that a decrease in 1-40, like the one observed in our study, leaves 1-42 unchecked," said Domenico Pratico, Professor at the Temple University in Pennsylvania.

"In our model, this change in ratio resulted in considerable neuronal damage, decreased neural contacts, and memory impairment" he added.

Conversely, Alzheimer mice fed a diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil had reduced levels of amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau and experienced memory improvement, the researchers said.

The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Here is a list of healthy foods for your brain. Check them out.

1. Avocados:

Avocados are considered as one of the best fruits. Avocados are believed to contain high amount of good fat, considered good for brain health and also helps in keeping your blood sugar level under control.

2. Nuts:

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids or what is known as good fats, consuming a handful of nuts is good for one's brain health. Almonds and walnuts are considered good for the brain.

3. Broccoli:

Rich in fibre content broccoli is alsocontains high levels of vitamin K, vitamin C and choline. Consuming broccoli on a regular basis have been found good for the brain. It helps in keeping your memory sharp.

4. Dark Chocolates:

Dark chocolates contains flavonols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Not just are they good for your brain health but consuming dark chocolates in limited quantity can help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to both the brain and heart.

5. Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to suppress the cells that cause inflammation. It helps to destroy the bad bacteria that can affect the gut. Consuming coconut oil on a regular basis is also considered good for your brain health.

(With Agency Inputs)