A social media influencer who is popular for his health and wellness videos has claimed that a popular ingredient in almost all ultra-processed foods could alter brain function.
in a viral video Posted this week, popular YouTuber Joseph Everett surprisingly claimed that “totally new, unnatural plant oils” could reduce a vital fatty acid found in the brain that protects it from inflammation.
Seed oils such as rapeseed, sunflower, soybean or corn have long been vilified for supposedly increasing the risk of heart disease, obesity and other illnesses.
But Everett, who has 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, says they can also have a “negative effect” on brain development, even “slowing it down.”
In a viral video posted this week, popular YouTuber Joseph Everett also surprisingly claimed that these “totally new and unnatural plant oils” could reduce an omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain, vital to helping it function.
The Nova system, developed by scientists in Brazil more than a decade ago, divides foods into four groups based on the amount of processing they have gone through. Unprocessed foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and meat. Processed culinary ingredients, which are not typically eaten alone, include oils, butter, sugar, and salt.
In the video, Everett said that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, was “critical for healthy brain function in adulthood.”
And he added: ‘The best source of DHA is seafood: fish, shellfish, crustaceans and algae.
‘These brand new, unnatural plant oils contain tons of DHA-depleting linoleic acid.
‘But DHA is essential for brain function and even brain evolution.
‘Most restaurants use these seed-based oils for cooking because they are very cheap.
‘Most processed and pre-packaged foods contain plenty of vegetable oil. Of course, fried foods are fried in vegetable oil.
Is there any evidence to support your claims?
Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid. Since the body cannot produce it on its own, it must be consumed as part of our diet.
According to the NHS, Brits should limit trans fats (found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) to no more than 5g per day.
But omega-3s and omega-6s can also help reduce the level of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood, according to studies.
The health service says they are considered “healthy fats.”
Limited Preclinical evidence has suggested that excess linoleic acid could “increase the brain’s vulnerability to inflammation.”
But there are currently no human studies that demonstrate a definitive link between the two.
The Alzheimer’s Society does not recognize any link between seed oils and brain function.
Instead, he advises people to follow a Mediterranean diet to “maintain good brain function.”
This includes “the use of vegetable and vegetable oils for cooking and seasoning, for example olive oil and rapeseed oil.”
While Mr. Everett acknowledged that “linoleic acid is not a synthetic poison like lead” and that “a small amount in the diet is totally normal,” he added: “But the problem clearly is that today we are consuming very unnatural of him.” .
He also cited research from Canadian scientists suggesting that women who consumed too much linoleic acid “not only had lower levels of DHA but also lower levels of the brain fats arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.”
He 2010 studywhich evaluated 105 pregnant women, ‘suggested that there was a competitive interaction of linoleic acid with arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA.
“This also suggests that linoleic acid removes DHA and other fats essential for brain function and development,” Mr Everett said.
“Then, five years later, a 2015 study found that children whose mothers consumed too much linoleic acid experienced negative effects on their children’s brain development.”
The UK is the worst country in Europe for UPF consumption, which makes up around 57 per cent of the national diet.
The general term, ultra-processed foods (UPF) is used to cover anything edible made with colorings, sweeteners, and preservatives that extend shelf life.
Prepared meals, ice cream, and tomato ketchup are some of the most beloved examples of products that fall under the umbrella term UPF.
This is now synonymous with foods that offer little nutritional value.
They are different from processed foods, which are modified to make them last longer or improve their flavor, such as cured meat, cheese, and fresh bread.
The UK is the worst country in Europe for UPF consumption, which makes up around 57 per cent of the national diet.
They are believed to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.