A disturbing new study published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity uncovered an alarming connection between common food emulsifiers and cognitive decline.
It seems these additives aren't only messing with your gut but also compromising your brain's natural defenses.
Here's what the researchers discovered...
Emulsifiers, especially common synthetic ones like polysorbate 80, wreak havoc on the gut microbiome. But that's just the beginning of the problem.
Think of your gut lining like a security fence. The mucus layer is your first line of defense against harmful invaders. However, when you consume emulsifiers, they help bacteria break through this protective barrier.
That’s concerning enough, but then things get even MORE disturbing...
Because once these additives compromise your gut barrier, toxins and harmful bacteria can slip into your bloodstream. This means some are heading straight for your brain.
Scientists found that polysorbate 80 (which is in everything from ice cream to vaccines) disrupts the blood-brain barrier. This critical defense system typically keeps harmful substances out of your brain.
However, toxins build up in brain tissue when this barrier breaks down, leading to cognitive decline, increased inflammation, elevated blood sugar, and insulin resistance.
Incredibly, the FDA doesn't require manufacturers to test how these additives affect our gut microbes before approval. It's a dangerous oversight that could be affecting millions of Americans.
Emulsifiers are lurking throughout our food supply in bread, ice cream, peanut butter, processed meats, and even many so-called "healthy" processed foods.
To protect your brain, try this…- Choose natural, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and meats whenever possible
- Make more dishes from scratch
- Choose organic when available
Also, look for synthetic emulsifiers on ingredient labels, including…- Mono- and diglycerides (or E471)
- Polysorbates (polysorbate 80 or E433)
- Carboxymethylcellulose (or CMC)
- Lecithin (can be natural depending on the source)
- Any ingredient ending with "-ate" or "-ose"
If you’re eating processed foods, you'll never be able to completely eliminate emulsifiers, but when you know what to look for you can limit them.
Remember, emulsifiers might make processed foods more palatable, but the cost to your brain health simply isn't worth it.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. Discover the hidden (and DEADLY) cost of convenience.
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SOURCE:
Panyod, S., Wu, W., Chang, C., Wada, N., Ho, H., Lo, Y., Tsai, S., Chen, R., Huang, H., Liu, P., Chen, Y., Chuang, H., Shen, T., Tang, S., Ho, C., Wu, M., & Sheen, L. (2024). Common dietary emulsifiers promote metabolic disorders and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in mice. Communications Biology, 7(1), 1-14. |
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Dear Living Well Daily Reader,