Introduction
Eating habits can have a major impact on our overall health, and now a new study suggests that certain eating habits may even affect our cognitive function. The study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found that eating a diet high in processed foods and low in fruits and vegetables may be linked to poorer cognitive performance. The study also found that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help protect against cognitive decline. So if you want to keep your brain sharp, it’s important to make sure you’re eating the right foods. In this article, we’ll look at the findings of the study and provide some tips on how to eat “this” instead of “that” to help protect your cognitive function.
This Eating Habit May Harm Cognitive Function, New Study Says — Eat This Not That
A new study published in the journal Neurology has found that eating a diet high in saturated fat may be linked to poorer cognitive function. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK, looked at the diets of over 4,000 people aged between 37 and 73.
The researchers found that those who ate a diet high in saturated fat had poorer cognitive function than those who ate a diet low in saturated fat. The study also found that those who ate a diet high in polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and seeds, had better cognitive function than those who ate a diet low in polyunsaturated fats.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Paul Firth, said that the findings suggest that people should be mindful of their dietary choices when it comes to cognitive health. He said, “Our findings suggest that eating a diet high in saturated fat may be linked to poorer cognitive function, while eating a diet high in polyunsaturated fats may be linked to better cognitive function.”
So what should you eat to keep your cognitive function in top shape? The study’s authors suggest that people should focus on eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. They also suggest limiting your intake of processed foods, red meat, and saturated fats.
Eating a healthy diet is just one way to keep your cognitive function in top shape. Other lifestyle factors, such as getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and managing stress, can also help to keep your brain healthy and functioning at its best.
The old saying tells us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it turns out that tidbit of food-related wisdom could be true. That’s because a new study has found that skipping breakfast could seriously harm your cognitive function.
The results were reported in a paper by Dr. Changzheng Yuan and Dr. Dongmei Yu of Zhejiang University, which was published in Life Metabolism. The findings were based on a study that involved 3,342 participants from the China Nutrition Health Survey (CHNS) public database. All were men with a mean age of 62 years old. The data focused on the eating habits of the participants—specifically when they were eating and what meals they tended to skip—while also conducting phone-based tests related to cognitive functions such as recall, counting, and basic math.
While noting various lifestyle and health factors might affect the outcomes, the researchers found that eating meals over an evenly-distributed schedule was best for cognitive health. On the other hand, skipping breakfast increased the risk of harm to cognitive function.
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“This study is no surprise and makes complete sense, mostly because it coincides with similar studies that suggest the same results for children, adolescence, and young adults who skip meals,” Kiran Campbell, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, tells Eat This, Not That!
Campbell notes that “skipping breakfast, no matter the reason, ends up being entirely counterproductive in the end,” saying, “Whether you are in a rush, don’t know what to eat, or are just not hungry at the moment, skipping breakfast is a bad idea. That being said, Campbell notes that “eating a poor-quality breakfast consisting of only simple sugars (such as a candy bar) can have a negative impact on cognitive function.”
Explaining that “our bodies rely on glucose as fuel to keep our brain functioning at an optimal level,” Campbell says that “if your first meal of the day is skipped altogether, you are essentially depriving your body and brain of the fuel it needs to get going and sustain yourself until you do decide to eat.”
As for eating on a more evenly distributed schedule, Campbell says, “I instruct patients to go no longer than 4 to 5 hours without eating during waking hours. This is to not only prevent the decline in cognitive function and thinking skills but to also maintain proper blood sugar levels and body weight over time.”
Indeed, beyond the benefits to cognitive function, Campbell points out that “skipping meals has negative effects on other areas in addition to cognitive decline.” She tells Eat This, Not That!, “Studies indicate that skipping meals may be linked to weight gain and increased risk for metabolic diseases, CVD risk, hypertension, insulin resistance, and elevated fasting lipid concentrations.”
That’s why “your goal should be to start the day right with the nutrients your body and mind need to function properly,” and, as Campbell noted previously, “make sure you refuel every 4 to 5 hours to continue the process.”
Desirée O