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
