We count calories and watch portion sizes when it comes to food. But this mindful approach disappears when it comes to beverages. What you drink has a significant impact on your health, especially brain health. Take oat milk, for instance. While most assume it is a healthy alternative to cow’s milk, it may be doing something far more sinister. It may be doing more harm than good for your brain. Not just oat milk, but two other popular drinks are on the list. Here are three drinks worth reconsidering.
Oat milk
Oat milk, which is a plant-based, dairy-free milk made by blending oats with water, is gaining popularity. According to Robert Love, a Florida-based neuroscientist, oat milk might not be the right drink for your brain. This dairy-free alternative, known for its creamy texture and mild flavor, is not exactly ideal from a neurological standpoint, and some of the concerns are worth understanding.“Oat milk is basically liquid oats, which makes it basically liquid carbs. When you’re drinking liquid carbs without any fiber, this can spike your insulin, spike your blood glucose, and create inflammation. Inflammation is one of the primary risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and a major risk factor for aging,” the neuroscientist said in a video shared on Instagram.He further added, “Oat milk has added oils in it. A lot of those oils can be inflammatory.”
Diet soda
Another beloved beverage is diet soda. Most people assume that replacing sugary soda with a zero-calorie version is good for health. However, mounting research has raised doubt about this trade-off. “So, people argue that diet soda doesn’t increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. But new research out of France of a hundred thousand Japanese people over the course of nine years—a very big, long longitudinal study—found that those who consume foods with artificial sweeteners, including diet soda, have a 69% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Sixty-nine percent increased risk—that is a massive risk,” Robert Love said.Type 2 diabetes is one of the major risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. So, diet soda may damage your brain in the long term.
Fruit juice
Fruit juice is another controversial beverage that may do more harm than good, especially for the brain. “Fruit juice has lots of sugar and no fiber. So, when you drink that or give that to your children, this can spike their insulin, spike their blood glucose, create inflammation because of those blood sugar spikes, and that can be harmful to the brain,” the neuroscientist explained.When consumed on an empty stomach, fruit juice can cause rapid glucose absorption. If you enjoy drinking fruit juice, Love suggests eating a small amount of fiber—possibly a handful of nuts or some vegetables—to slow down glucose absorption.
