2024-03-28 16:01:37
Scientists have been investigating what happens if large amounts of cooking oil are reused. This is a common practice in restaurants.
Researchers have found that used oil may contain brain-damaging impurities that end up in food.
Rats given the reused oil showed more signs of inflammation, which is said to damage blood vessels and accelerate cognitive decline.
“Cooking at high temperatures is associated with several metabolic disorders. However, to our knowledge, we are the first to provide evidence that long-term consumption of cooking oil increases neurodegeneration,” the University of Chicago researchers report.
An abstract of the study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the full article is to be published in a supplement to the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
The results are alarming
In restaurants and at home, cooking oil is constantly reused for frying various vegetables, donuts or tempura dishes.
It is recommended to change the oil in the fryers every 2-8 times, but sometimes people can keep the oil longer.
Experts have previously warned that reusing cooking oil can cause harm. Foods can contain peroxides, which can damage the brain, and acrylamide, a chemical compound that has been linked to cancer.
The researchers divided the rats into five groups. One group, the control, received standard food for 30 days. The remaining rodents consumed feed with oil for the same period.
Rats that received reheated sesame or sunflower oil were found to have increased liver inflammation.
They were also found to have marked damage to the colon and overgrowth of bacteria that release harmful toxins and damage cells.
The researchers also examined the brains of the rats under a microscope and found that the brains of those that received the reheated oil had dementia-like lesions.
The researchers said that human studies would be needed to confirm their findings, but the results were troubling.
In the future, it is planned to study what influence cooking oil can have on the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as anxiety disorders and depression.
What are the alternatives?
Experts advise choosing a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as nutrients such as curcumin and vitamin E. Turmeric and almonds are excellent sources.
Antioxidants, fiber and polyphenols from fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts and green tea can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. And this is very useful for the brain.
Probiotics are important for gut and liver health, and you can get them from kefir or kimchi.
Adhering to common healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean or MIND dietary principles, can prevent neurodegeneration.
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2024-03-28 16:01:37