January Health Pearls: Walnuts and Alzheimer’s, Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Vapor

1. Walnuts as Super Nuts for Memory 

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reported a significant positive relationship between walnut consumption and cognitive function in adults of all ages, gender and ethnicity.  These findings are similar to those published in earlier studies.

In this survey, adults between 20-59 years old who reported walnut consumption on average of 10.3 grams per day had a significant improvement of cognitive function as shown by higher scores in cognitive testing.  Adults 60 years and older with walnut consumption of 13.1 g/d also scored significantly higher in all cognitive function tests.

Walnuts, known for their high content of omega 3, can offer potential brain protection against Alzheimer’s Disease, a tragic condition described in Dr. Linda Yau’s recent book review and my blog on dementia and prevention.  Snacking on walnuts or adding them to your salads or morning cereal might be a simple but helpful way to maintain our brain health. 10.3 grams, by the way, is the equivalent of about 3 walnuts!

 2.  Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Vapor

Dr. David Peyton, PhD, lead researcher and chemistry professor at Portland State University in Oregon, reported how, at a high voltage setting of E-Cigarettes, a much higher level of formaldehyde can be released which increases the user’s lifetime risk of cancer 5 to 15 times higher than the risk caused by long-term smoking of tobacco cigarettes. 

His research, released in the Jan 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that formaldehyde is not released at low voltage settings.  However, with the users being able to adjust the operating temperature higher, the vapor in the E-cigarette changes and more formaldehyde is released.

The American Vaping Association, an organization advocating for E-cigarette makers, claims that high voltage settings, however, are not how real life vapers smoke, thus high levels of formaldehyde under real life conditions would not be a problem.  Whether or not this argument is valid, be aware that if you or your loved ones happen to use a high voltage setting in an E-Cigarette, you are potentially causing much more harm to your health than regular smoking.

For more information on the topic of E-Cigarette, you can read Dr. Marsha Seidelman’s recent update on E-Cigarette use.