Last week, we presented a headline update on news from the learned journals about the fight against obesity. This week we look at recent developments in the realm of diet and memory. And once again, the villain of the piece is highly processed foods. But mushrooms come off heroic!
Avoid breakfasts like this if you want to live long and enjoy top metal health and well-being.
Unless you’re planning on sharing it with half a dozen family or friends!
We, as a society, are now well aware that certain foods, and food categories, are major contributors to the obesity epidemic. Processed – especially ultra-processed foods are pegged as especially bad. Now, science has begun to identity specific foods that are either good or bad for your memory. Really. Not just more nutty claims by internet cranks and quacks…
Some recent developments
How highly processed foods harm memory in the aging brain
Ohio State University researchers say 4 weeks on a diet of highly processed food led to a strong inflammatory response in the brains of aging rats that was accompanied by behavioral signs of memory loss, a new study has found. Researchers also found that supplementing the processed diet with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA prevented memory problems and reduced the inflammatory effects almost entirely in older rats.
Yes, it’s all about rats at this point, but rats have long been used as analogues to humans in early ‘proof of concept’ experiments on all sorts of medical and health issues. But given the dark record that processed foods are racking up in connection with a wide range of ills, not the least of which is obesity.
Mushroom consumption may lower risk of depression
Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one’s risk of cancer and premature death, but new research also reveals that these super-foods may benefit a person’s mental health.
Penn State researchers used data on diet and mental health collected from more than 24,000 U.S. adults between 2005 and 2016. They found that people who ate mushrooms had lower odds of developing depression. According to the researchers, mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant that may protect against cell and tissue damage in the body. Studies have shown that antioxidants help prevent several mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder – and depression.
Wiggling worms suggest link between vitamin B12 and Alzheimer’s
University of Delaware researchers discovered that worms lose their wiggle when they get Alzheimer’s disease, but researchers found that worms fed a diet with higher levels of vitamin B12 were given a layer of protection from the dreaded degenerative brain disease that afflicts more than 6 million Americans.
Again, this is a very early stage experiment using a much less complex organism than humans. But researchers point out that the mechanism is in play is the same: unprotected worm developed amyloid plaques similar to those in humans who develop Alzheimer’s.
“We’ve essentially identified this molecular pathway and we’re looking to see what else it activates,” Professor Jessica Tanis said. “Can B12 be protective for multiple neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Parkinson’s? We’re looking into it.”
Pilot study of diet/exercise in young adults with intellectual disabilities is promising
New research finds that children who eat more fruit and veg have better mental health. The study is the first to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable intakes, breakfast and lunch choices, and mental well being in UK school children. The research team studied data from almost 9,000 children in 50 schools. They found that the types of breakfast and lunch eaten by both primary and secondary school pupils were significantly associated with well being.
Lead researcher Prof. Ailsa Welch, from University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School (UK) said: “In terms of nutrition, we found that only around a quarter of secondary-school children and 28 per cent of primary-school children reported eating the recommended five-a-day fruits and vegetables. And just under one in ten children were not eating any fruits or vegetables. […] More than one in five secondary school children and one in 10 primary children didn’t eat breakfast. And more than one in 10 secondary school children didn’t eat lunch.”
Dr. Richard Hayhoe said: “We found that eating well was associated with better mental well being in children. And that among secondary school children in particular, there was a really strong link between eating a nutritious diet, packed with fruit and vegetables, and having better mental well being.”
The magic formula for better childhood mental health? Just stick to the latest Canada’s Food Guide recommendations: fill half their plate with fresh fruits and veggies, a quarter with whole grains and a quarter with lean proteins.
Amazing isn’t it?
How eating well seems to influence all aspects of life? How long can we afford to ignore the truths that, day by day, become more self-evident?
~ Maggie J.