The Relationship of Diet to Memory


The relationship of diet to memory has been debated much over the decades. And as technology evolves, we are realizing more than ever before about how what we eat affects our bodies. The loss of memory often associated with older ages is something that most societies of the world can say they have in common. But what is being discovered is that much of what we eat can be a contributor to memory loss later on in life.
A 2008 study conducted by researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina revealed that citizens living in advanced industrialized nations suffered the most from memory loss. Interestingly, it was revealed that these nations were those having diets which were the highest in saturated fat and cholesterol. Studies in two universities revealed that memory impairment was the result from a diet high in these two ingredients.
Should the same thing happen in humans, it may be suggested, according to the study that the reduction of cholesterol and saturated fat in the diet may help to improve brain function and preserve memory.
The Role of Super Foods
It's been found that a number of foods can be helpful in the slowing down of cognitive decline that is related to age. One of these many foods are berries. And incorporating them into your daily diet is easier than you may think.
The same is true for those vegetables having dark green leafy properties. Vegetables of this type include spinach and romaine lettuce, and all it takes is to make a salad with your nightly meal. In fact, a salad can be incorporated with any meal, and even as a healthy snack when you add berries and nuts to it. Even just one cup of spinach can provide you with fifteen percent of your daily vitamin E requirement.
Essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish such as salmon have many properties which benefit the brain. They are classified as 'essential' because they can only be obtained by eating fish which contain them or by taking supplements.
Memory-Reducing Foods to Avoid
Soda is actually something that many experts say we should avoid entirely. This is because of the amounts of glucose it contains. In order to function properly, our brains need glucose, but in a steady stream. The amount of glucose delivered in one sitting can be overwhelming for both the brain and the body to process at one time.
As mentioned previously, fast foods are high in both cholesterol and saturated fat, which mean they can threaten our memory later on in life. This occurs because the high fat content in fast foods causes carotid artery disease, which is a narrowing of arteries in the neck. This can lead to less oxygen reaching the brain, which will eventually impair memory function.
An Unusual Food Which Aids Memory
Many studies have shown that the simple act of chewing gum can help with both short and long-term memory, whether the gum contains sugar or not. This has led some researchers to believe that it's the increase in heart rate that accompanies gum-chewing which, in turn, increases blood flow to the brain.
Believe it or not, the best diets for women are not necessarily the best diets for men, or vice-versa. But having a useful online resource can help anyone wishing to lose weight to be successful.