Try This - 3 Big Shares for Your Week

This week I’ve got three good shares for you. 

High level:

1. If you consume avocado oil, you have to see this report

2. When (in addition to what) you eat can protect your brain

3. How to get rid of the deadliest fat in your body

Let’s get into it. 

Number 1: Avocado Oils Independently Tested for Phthalates: Here’s What You Need to Know (and the Brands You Can Feel Better About Choosing)

If you use avocado oil like I do, here’s something you’re going to want to read about. 

A recent independent investigation by Mamavation tested 11 popular avocado oil brands for phthalates, a class of chemicals commonly used to make plastics more flexible. Before we dive into what they found, here’s why you should care about this:

Phthalates have been linked in research to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, metabolic dysfunction, and developmental concerns, which is why many scientists recommend minimizing unnecessary exposure whenever possible.

Every single avocado oil tested contained detectable levels of phthalates. The primary compounds detected were DEHP and DINP, with some oils also containing DIDP, all chemicals that are thought to enter food during processing, storage, or packaging rather than coming from the avocados themselves.

What stood out wasn't simply that phthalates were detected; it was how dramatically the levels differed.

Some oils contained only small amounts. For example, Nutiva Organic tested at 76 parts per billion (ppb), Amazon Fresh at 159 ppb, and AVOHASS at 218 ppb.

Others, however, contained substantially higher levels, including Trader Joe's (2,426 ppb), Primal Kitchen (2,774 ppb), Simple Truth Organic (2,912 ppb), and Private Selection (3,032 ppb). The highest level measured was Madhava Clean & Simple, which tested at 56,808 ppb, hundreds of times higher than the cleanest products tested.

The investigators suggest the contamination likely comes from the manufacturing process rather than the oil itself. Plastic tubing, conveyor belts, storage tanks, gaskets, seals, food-processing equipment, and even packaging materials can all contribute to phthalate contamination.

Here’s what to note: This was not a peer-reviewed scientific study, and only one bottle from each brand was tested. That means we can't assume every bottle from a particular company contains the same amount of phthalates, nor should we conclude these rankings are permanent. Manufacturing practices change, and contamination can vary from batch to batch.

Still, I think this is information we consumers deserve. This doesn’t mean I’m going to stop using avocado oil, but I’m definitely going to use this info to make the best choice for my family.

As more independent testing becomes available, consumers will be able to make better-informed choices, and hopefully manufacturers will continue improving the way our food is produced.

Number 2: Time-Restricted Eating Can Protect Your Brain

Here’s a promising tool for anyone looking to help prevent cognitive decline. 

Researchers enrolled 47 overweight or obese women between the ages of 50 and 79 in a six-month weight-loss program. Everyone reduced their daily calorie intake by about 500 calories, but one group was also asked to eat within a nine-hour window (typically between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) and to avoid eating for at least four hours before bedtime. The comparison group spread their meals over a more typical 12-hour eating window.

Both groups lost about 15 pounds, but one group performed better on cognitive tasks. 

The women following the time-restricted eating schedule performed better on tests of spatial planning, problem-solving, learning, and some aspects of memory. 

Researchers believe that aligning food intake with the body's circadian rhythms may improve metabolic health, reduce inflammation, and support brain function. Basically, the more we give our bodies a chance to rest when it’s dark (instead of digesting), the better our sleep and brain function will be. 

There are important limitations. This was a small pilot study involving only women who were overweight or obese, and the findings were presented at a scientific meeting rather than published in a peer-reviewed journal. That means the results should be viewed as preliminary until they're replicated in larger, more diverse studies.

But I think the results totally make sense. 

If you're already working on your nutrition, one simple experiment might be to finish dinner a little earlier and give your body a longer overnight break from food.

Number 3: Video on the Scientific Way to Lose Visceral Fat (the Most Dangerous Fat in Your Body)

Not all body fat is created equal. 

The fat you can pinch under your skin (subcutaneous fat) is very different from visceral fat, the fat that surrounds your organs deep inside your abdomen. 

Visceral fat is metabolically active, meaning it doesn't just sit there; it releases inflammatory chemicals and hormones that can interfere with insulin sensitivity, raise blood pressure, increase triglycerides, and contribute to chronic inflammation. 

Over time, excess visceral fat has been linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, certain cancers, and even cognitive decline. The good news? Visceral fat is also one of the most responsive types of fat to lifestyle changes. 

So what's the most effective way to lose it? This video and Substack article from Dr. Gil Carvalho contain one of the most comprehensive guides to losing visceral fat, which we should all pay attention to. 

Here are some of the key points: The evidence points to a combination of a moderate calorie deficit and regular exercise. And the type of exercise matters. 

Cardio burns calories and has consistently been shown to reduce visceral fat, even in some studies where people didn't lose much weight. Walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, and other aerobic exercise all appear to be effective. I thought this was important because these days people seem to be skipping cardio in favor of strength training, but they both matter. 

Strength training is incredibly important because it helps preserve and build muscle during weight loss. That's important because muscle keeps your metabolism healthier, improves insulin sensitivity, and helps ensure that most of the weight you lose comes from fat, not lean tissue. The strongest evidence suggests the combination of cardio and resistance training produces the best overall results for body composition and long-term health.

Dr. Carvalho also dives into the best and worst foods to eat to combat visceral fat, sleep, rest, and more. Specifically, he talks about how certain foods can help you lose visceral fat, like a type of carbohydrate called resistant starch. He also discusses the role of polyphenols in fighting visceral fat—green tea, walnuts, dark chocolate, berries, and more. These foods contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, and they also help your liver burn more fat. Pretty wild. 

What I love about these tips is that they are super realistic and pretty much anyone can incorporate these changes into their lives. I’m already going to get my parents started on everything he mentioned in his video. 

See you next week for more shares. 

Much love,
Dhru Purohit

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice; please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.