CNBC headlines. "A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert said that she avoided eating these five foods that would'diminish memory and concentration'." She is also the author of the book "This is Your Food Brain", which is what Amazon is compelling. The number one best-selling book in terms of disease. I haven't read this book, but according to her article, it will be meaningless, the article has appeared in many other news media.
I am well aware of the widespread junk science in the nutrition field, and her article is just another reflection of it. This is the standard attempt
"Existing research shows that we can reduce the likelihood of developing dementia by avoiding foods that damage our intestinal bacteria and weaken our memory and concentration."
The research was conducted in mice and involved the treatment of chronic vascular inflammation and the possible prevention of human cardiovascular disease. There is no mention of dementia, memory or attention, which of course may be a bit difficult to measure in mice, so it seems strange to extrapolate this research to any meaningful information about the prevention of dementia.
In addition, please consider the following points, all from peer-reviewed research.
"The following are the foods I try to avoid or reduce to fight inflammation and promote brain health, sharp thinking and good decision-making."
Before criticizing her statement, you might want to check out my previous article about a serious misunderstanding of so-called "inflammatory" foods.
No one would argue that most Americans or anyone living in an industrialized society can reduce their intake of added sugars. Most people are too long to sit still and cannot often indulge in extra calories that they cannot use. Glucose metabolism disorders are generally associated with an increase in the proportion of overweight and obese adults. However, the author cites a study of Malaysian seniors 60 years of age or older to support her position that added sugar may induce dementia. Here are some additional related notes
"In fact, a study involving 18,080 people found that a diet high in fried foods is associated with lower scores on learning and memory. The possible reason is that these guilty pleasures can cause inflammation, which damages the blood supply to the brain. Blood vessels." Added emphasis
The research she referred to again used the unreliable food frequency questionnaire. Sugary drinks are one of the foods with the highest glycemic index. [3] However, the author who cited the study stated that “no significant association was found between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the risk of depression.”
Yes, the author calls it one of the "foods" to avoid. It is commendable that she did not say to stop drinking, but to prevent excessive indulgence. Her advice should be common sense. But do you think anyone who is overly addicted to alcohol will read her work first?
Nitrates are not food; they are used as preservatives and enhance the color of cured meats. She said that according to the study, "nitrates may be related to depression."
The authors of the study did not evaluate nitrate at all. They studied the blood biomarker nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is involved in many cellular processes, and almost every cell naturally produces nitric oxide, far more than any dietary source. One of its functions is as a vasodilator. Therefore, in theory, if dementia is related to vasoconstriction, nitric oxide should help prevent dementia, rather than exacerbate it.
As the author reports, “Patients with depression have significantly higher plasma nitrate concentrations than those with anxiety disorders or the control group.” But the research team is small. As the author pointed out, “Patients with severe depression produce excessive amounts of NO (nitric oxide). The source of) is unclear."
It's sad to say, but this Harvard-trained dietitian does not seem to have mastered some basic nutritional science concepts, and I will teach these concepts in the initial nutrition course at the junior college level.
[1] Journal of Biomedical Research on Animal Models of Coronary Heart Disease
[2] Small mammalian animal model of heart disease American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease
[3] A glycemic index of 55 or lower is both low and good; an index of 70 or higher is not good. Coca-Cola has an index of 63, which is basically the same as sugar. Fruits usually have a low glycemic index
David Lightsey MS is Food and Nutrition Science Consultant at Quackwatch.org and author of "Myths About Nutrition Science."
Copyright © 1978-2021 American Council of Science and Health
Email: info@acsh.org Phone: 212.362.7044
The United States Council for Science and Health is a research and educational organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are completely tax-deductible. ACSH has no endowments. We mainly raise funds from individuals and foundations every year.