Our Neurological abilities define our lives more than any other capacity in present times, and it’s not only about the ability to function in contemporary age but also how the previous generation lived and survived better than today’s growing population.
Our focus right now is more on coping with pandemic and the well being of our mental health, but Did you know that the food you consumed even before the lockdown period might have been poisonous for your healthy brain?
It sounds unusual of a matter as to how food links us to a healthy brain? It always can and had been linked for a long time now because that’s why it is said, ”a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.”
A recent study at Deakin University and (ANU) The Australian National University had some wonderous discoveries made which require the civilians to be more carefully understood. The brain requires a lot of fuel to power actively, and the energies that the aging Population is consuming aren’t the appropriate one.
According to the research done in Deakin University, our brain consists of a part known as ”Hippocampus”, which has two sides [left and Right], and the left is mostly responsible for all learning, thinking memory, and mental health.
After a proper examination of the people of the age group from 60 years of age, the cumulative conclusion was a bigger size of hippocampi in aged citizens than the lesser age group citizen. This examination was more precise, employing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test results.
How is this affecting the Population?
The Associate Professor Felice Jacka, who is also the lead author of the study and researcher with Deakin University’s IMPACT Strategic Research Centre in Geelong, specifically highlighted the fact that as the consumption of unhealthy food increases, so does the reducing abilities to learn, memorize, think, and all the cognitive skills.
The professor also stated that it’s’s been clear for a while now that physical health and intake of proper nutrients are associated with the healthy functioning of the brain. Still, the theory was only tested on the model of mice, but now with this newly developed research, it is apparent that the same approach applies to the human brain as well.
Hence, this research, which is now published in the International Journal of BMC Medicine, clearly represents that a healthy diet will probably increase the size of the Hippocampal and better its cognitive abilities. At the same time, fewer nutrients would mean a lesser extent and almost disrupted the functioning of the brain.
These findings are very close at this moment, relevant to the idea that cognitive declination would be the result of this unhealthy consumption of food.
What else to worry about if consuming Junk Food?
The quality of Diet has been reportedly connected with depression and cognitive wellness. People not only in India but in Western countries who consume unhealthy food products such as Hamburgers, French fries, diet soda or coke, packaged or canned frozen meats, or any other food item had shown signs of lower mental strength as in, reduced ability to function in terms of learning, thinking, brain-related activities or work and even all the mental disorders seem to be part of this association between food and mental health.
A very recent study in Oregon showed that people who consumed unhealthy food had more levels of trans-fat in their blood, which becomes an apparent reason for low cognitive functioning. But, its not only the food factor that affects the functioning of the Hippocampus but certain other elements such as educational level, cultural factors, gender, physical activity, smoking, etc.
But while the rate of dementia and mental disorders are increasing as the rate of Population is increasing, the sole reason is an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, which requires a balanced diet of healthy and nutritious consumption of food items.
What To consume & What not to for a Healthy Brain?
According to various studies, a subtle combination of Vitamin B (Whole grains, meat, eggs, and dairy products, Legumes, Seeds and Nuts, Leafy Vegetables and Fruits), food rich in antioxidants C and E (Dark Chocolate, Blue Berries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Bacons, Goji Berries, Kale, Orange, broccoli, spinach, mangoes, black currents, Capsicum, Kiwi) and Vitamin D (Fatty Fish[omega-3 and fatty acids], Salmon, Tuna [Not canned], Fish liver oils and Mackerels, cheese and Egg Yolks) are suitable for a better circulation of blood and supplying enough oxygen to the brain. The studies proved this by taking blood samples of various individuals who consumed such foods and had a healthy size of the Hippocampus in their minds.
Although foods like Commercial Muffins, packaged and canned foods, cured meats, Citrus and Diet Sodas, Soy Sauce, added sugar preservatives, ice-cream, White Rice, French Fries, Alcohol, Donuts could lead to a deduction is the size of the Hippocampus. Hence, Junk should be out of the To-Do list to maintain a healthy brain, cognitive ability, and reducing the chances of mental disorders.
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