Margarine Linked to Lower IQs in Kids

Margarine is touted as a healthful alternative to butter, but it may be dumbing down our kids, according to researchers in New Zealand.

Children who ate margarine every day scored 3 points lower on IQ tests at the age of 3 than children who did not, said the researchers at Auckland University in New Zealand.

(Photo: In the early days of margarine, the consumer would receive the while substance resembling lard with a yellow food coloring pill to knead into it before serving, making it more eye appealing and therefore more appetizing.)

By the age of 7, children who were underweight at birth had scores that were up to 6 points lower than those of children who did not eat margarine on a daily basis.

A difference of even 3 points in a child’s IQ easily could make a difference between being classified as “mentally retarded,” which is an IQ score of 70-79 on some charts, instead of “dull normal,” a score of 80 to 90.

“The impact of regular margarine consumption on intelligence now warrants further investigation in order to replicate these findings and to identify possible mechanisms that may underlie this association,” the researchers said.

What lies behind the link? The researchers are not sure — even when socioeconomic factors such as the occupations of the parents were considered, the link still held. They speculate, however, that trans fats may be the culprit.

Trans fats are formed when vegetable oil is solidified, as in the case of margarine, and they raise “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol. They have been associated with memory problems in tests with animals, and they make it more difficult to process healthier fats.

Both genuine butter and margarine should be used sparingly because of their high fat content.

Margarine vs. Butter Fact: Margarine consumption in the United States overtook butter in the 1950s

Margarine is touted as a healthful alternative to butter, but it may be dumbing down our kids, according to researchers in New Zealand.

Children who ate margarine every day scored 3 points lower on IQ tests at the age of 3 than children who did not, said the researchers at Auckland University in New Zealand.

By the age of 7, children who were underweight at birth had scores that were up to 6 points lower than those of children who did not eat margarine on a daily basis.

A difference of even 3 points in a child’s IQ easily could make a difference between being classified as “mentally retarded,” which is an IQ score of 70-79 on some charts, instead of “dull normal,” a score of 80 to 90.

“The impact of regular margarine consumption on intelligence now warrants further investigation in order to replicate these findings and to identify possible mechanisms that may underlie this association,” the researchers said.

What lies behind the link? The researchers are not sure — even when socioeconomic factors such as the occupations of the parents were considered, the link still held. They speculate, however, that trans fats may be the culprit.

Trans fats are formed when vegetable oil is solidified, as in the case of margarine, and they raise “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol. They have been associated with memory problems in tests with animals, and they make it more difficult to process healthier fats.

Both genuine butter and margarine should be used sparingly because of their high fat content.

Margarine vs. Butter Fact: Margarine consumption in the United States overtook butter in the 1950s

Source: NewsMax Health

Posted: True Health Is True Wealth

There are many things that have contributed to the dumbing down of America’s children over the past 30 to 40 years… this is just one!

Related Resources:

The Dumbing Down of America Part 1

The Dumbing Down of America Part 11

The Dumbing Down of America Part III

The Dumbing Down of America IV

Who are Smarter -- Men or Women?

People like to think that men’s brains and women’s brains are fundamentally the same. But research indicates that men and women do in fact have different structures and wiring in the brain, and men and women may also use their brains differently.

Men do score better at tasks that involve orienting objects in space, while women do better at language tests.

Scientists have known for a while now that men and women have slightly different brains, but for many years they thought the changes were limited to the hypothalamus -- the part of your brain that controls sex drive and food intake.

In 2001, researchers found that certain parts of the brain were differently sized in males and females. The study found that parts of the frontal lobe, responsible for problem-solving and decision-making, and the limbic cortex, responsible for regulating emotions, were larger in women. In men, the parietal cortex, which is involved in space perception, and the amygdala, which regulates sexual and social behavior, were larger.

Men also have approximately 6.5 times more gray matter in the brain than women, and women have about 10 times more white matter than men do. This difference may account for differences in how men and women think -- gray matter is full of active neurons, while white matter consists more of connections between the neurons.

A woman's brain is a bit more complicated in setup, but those connections may allow a woman's brain to work faster than a man's.

However, average IQ scores are the same for both men and women.

Why Men Don't Live as Long as Women

Some believe that men are more likely than women to engage in risky behavior. While these photos are by no means proof, they certainly bear out the idea.

Why Men Don't Live as Long as Women

Some believe that men are more likely than women to engage in risky behavior. While these photos are by no means proof, they certainly bear out the idea.

Posted: True Health Is True Wealth