A follow-up on epigenetics.
New research was recently published, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. Soybean oil is used for fast food frying, added to processed foods, fed to livestock, and is, by far, the most widely consumed oil in the U.S. according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. It is a polyunsaturated fat which has been categorically thought to be good for us (but never proven). In 2015, it was linked to obesity and diabetes. Now, new research out of UC Riverside showed that soybean oil could also affect neurological conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression.
The study compared the RNA-seq analyses of mice fed three different diets high in fat: soybean oil, low linoleic acid soybean oil, and coconut oil. The scientists found that both of the soybean oils caused pronounced effects on the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus. In fact, over 100 genes were not functioning properly, including the one responsible for the production of oxytocin (the feel good hormone). Levels of oxytocin were drastically decreased when compared to levels from the mice fed coconut oil.
Discussion points need to be that this research has not yet been translated to humans, and an important area for the team’s future research will be to isolate which chemicals in the oil are responsible for these changes. This will lead to a better understanding of the role that fats play in our body and what ones are healthiest for consumption. Right now, the team warns to reduce the consumption of soybean oil.
The researchers also made it a point to say not to throw out tofu, soy milk, edamame, or soy sauce. Those products contain very little soybean oil and large amounts of healthful essential fatty acids and proteins. That being said, in the MZ Method, I eliminate all soy products. A large portion of the population is sensitive to it, and in my experience, after people reintroduce it, many find that it causes headaches and fatigue.
Have you paid much attention to the type of oil in your food or just how much fat is there? Again, we must return to the notion of paying attention to what we’re eating and not how much we’re eating.
Should we avoid vitamins that have soybean oil as an added ingredient as well?
I’m not sure which “vitamins” you are referring to, and I would never advise you to go against the advice of your healthcare provider. However, I’ll share with you that there is no soybean oil in the supplements that I buy, and yes, personally, I would not include it in anything that I consume daily.