Olive Oil And Alzheimer's Disease: Olive Oil For Brain Health
A lot of dollars have been put into Alzheimer’s drug research in recent years. So far, the effort has been a total failure.
No medications have been found that prevent or
reverse Alzheimer’s.
Meanwhile, the incidence of the disease is
exploding.
But what if the best Alzheimer’s drug is not a drug
at all?
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A study shows exactly how one food keeps you
mentally sharp—and why it may be the best weapon against Alzheimer’s.
The research was conducted at the Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University. Scientists found that not only does olive oil
help neurons function better and communicate with one another, it actually
works as a brain cleanser, ridding debris and toxins that lead to dementia.
Researchers conducted an experiment on mice
genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s. They divided the animals into two
groups. One ate a diet enriched with extra virgin olive oil. The other got
normal food.
The olive oil was added to their diet when the mice
were young, before any signs Alzheimer’s appeared.
As the mice grew older, they were tested for working
memory, spatial memory, and learning ability. Mice fed olive oil performed
significantly better on all mental tests.
Scientists then autopsied the brains of mice in both
groups. Mice getting olive oil showed fewer signs of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Domenico
Praticò is a professor of pharmacology and microbiology at Temple University.
He led the study.
“We found that olive oil reduces brain inflammation
but most importantly activates a process known as autophagy,” he said.
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Can Olive Oil Actually Stop Alzheimer’s?
Autophagy is the process by which cells break down
and clear out intracellular debris and toxins. This includes amyloid plaques
and tau tangles. These are clusters of proteins that clog neural pathways. They
are the primary marker of Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is an exciting finding for us,” explained Dr.
Praticò. “This is a very important discovery, since we suspect that a reduction
in autophagy marks the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers published their findings in the
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
Best
Olive Oils to Buy
The Temple researchers noted that they used extra
virgin olive oil (EVOO) in their study.
This is the cleanest, most nutrient-rich oil. It’s
full of polyphenols, which act as antioxidants, reducing the oxidative stress
throughout your body. Try to eat some of it every day.
EVOO can be very expensive. You can pay over $600
for a quart of artisanal oil. But you don’t need to shell out big bucks to get
olive oil’s brain benefits. You simply need to know what to look for.
Here are six simple ways to maximize olive oil’s
power to keep you healthy:
1.) Look for these letters. DOP, DO, DOC, and PDO on
the label of imported oils are universally trusted European certificates of
quality and origin. If your oil is from California, make sure it has a COOC
seal (California Olive Oil Council) and a USDA organic certification.
Some unscrupulous companies cut their olive oil with
cheaper, less healthy oils—like soybean or sunflower oils. These letters help
ensure that you’re not buying counterfeit oil.
2.) Buy organic, extra virgin. Organic extra virgin
oil is made from the first pressing of organically grown olives. There are no
chemicals or heat used that can degrade the oil’s nutrients. No further
processing occurs after the pressing.
Extra virgin oil contains no more than 0.8% acidity.
This is a key metric for determining nutrient quality.
3.) Make sure it’s in the right container. Buy olive
oil in a dark glass bottle or a steel container. Avoid clear and plastic
bottles.
Clear bottles expose oil to light. Light leads to
oxidation and rancidity. Plastic containers can leach noxious substances, such
as PVCs, into the oil.
4.) Keep it cool, but not too cool. Extra virgin
olive oil is best stored at cool room temperature, about 70 degrees F. Keep
your oil in a dark cupboard away from stove heat. Don’t put it in the
refrigerator. It will solidify, making it hard to pour. And refrigeration can give
extra virgin olive oil an off taste.
5.) Check the date. Olive oil does not improve with
age. Nutrients and flavor degrade over time. Look for a sell-by date on the
container. Oil older than a year has lost more than 40% of its nutritional
potency.
6.) Don’t overheat. If you are cooking with olive
oil, never let it smoke. If you do, you’ve ruined its antioxidant power. Olive
oil’s smoking point is about 400 degrees F.
Olive oil has been called the “healthiest fat on
earth.” It’s linked to lower risk of heart disease and cancer, reduced
inflammation, and lower blood pressure. And now you know that there’s strong
evidence that it can help keep you mentally sharp as you get older.
I recommend this brand for you
READ ALSO:4 Foods to Eat for Better Brain Health: Foods to Boost Your Brain
SOURCES:
[1] http://www.alz.org/facts/
[2] https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/tuhs-tse061917.php
[3]
http://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/21/22/2861.full
[4]
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/tuhs-tse061917.php
[5]
http://www.jpost.com/PromoContent/10-Most-Expensive-Olive-Oils-You-Can-Buy-Right-Now-442971
[6]
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/extra-virgin-olive-oil#bottom-line
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