Although fats play critical roles in the healthy functioning of our bodies, new research suggests that consuming excessive amounts of saturated fat may contribute to memory deficits.
A team from The Ohio State University set out to uncover the unseen ramifications of fats on cognitive function and cellular health in the brain. Their findings were published in Frontiers In Cellular Neuroscience.
The researchers studied two groups of mice, one given a high-fat diet and the other not. Those fed a high-fat diet were found to have higher levels of neuroinflammation and brain degradation.
Previous research conducted by this team found that even consuming a high-fat diet for a short time was enough for aged mice to show long-term memory impairments.
“Conversely, consumption of diets enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to reduce the brain’s response to an inflammatory stimulus and promote a return to homeostasis,” the team wrote.
The difference between saturated fats and PUFAs, which include omega-3s and omega-6s, is therefore stark when it comes to our health, this research suggests.
Saturated fats are primarily found in animal-based foods including red meat, cured meat products, cheese, butter, and palm oil.
When regularly consumed in large amounts, they might lead to increased cholesterol levels and risk of obesity and heart disease.
As extensively covered in The Dallas Express, obesity rates continue to climb nationwide among both adults and children, putting more Americans in danger of serious health conditions and early death.
For instance, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 22 states — including Texas — reached an adult obesity rate of 35% or above in 2022.
At the same time, consuming a no-fat or low-fat diet runs the risk of interfering with several critical body processes, such as the uptake of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Instead, diets rich in PUFAs, as found in olive oil, fatty fish, caviar, flaxseeds, meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals, walnuts, and spinach, carry an array of health benefits.
The recent study further concluded cognitive advantages were above all demonstrated by the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which actually curbed the neuroinflammation caused by palmitate, a common saturated fat.
Weighing in on the study’s findings, registered dietitian Sarah Wagner noted that it sheds light on the processes behind the observed fact that “people whose diet patterns have more sources of omega-3 fatty acids are generally healthier than those with more saturated fats.”
She also suggested a few simple ways to create a healthier diet by swapping out saturated fats for omega-3s.
“Replace red meat with a fatty fish like salmon,” Wagner said. “Opt for a meatless meal at least once a week. Replace deli meats with tuna. Cook with canola oil instead of butter, coconut oil, or grease. Instead of 80/20 ground beef, choose leaner 93/7 ground beef or turkey.”
