According to the latest reports, it seems that dietary choices can have a massive impact on the health of our brains. Check out the latest details about the important matter below.
Dietary choices and brain health
A study published in Nature Mental Health (NMH) on April 1, conducted in the UK, has found that a healthy and balanced diet is linked to superior cognitive function, better mental well-being, and improved brain health.
It even increases gray matter, which is associated with higher intelligence. The findings provide more evidence to the well-known adage, “You are what you eat,” which applies to both the mind and the body.
The results of the study were so strong that the lead author, Jianfeng Feng, a professor at the University of Warwick, emphasized the importance of adopting an optimal diet from childhood.
“Developing a healthy balanced diet from an early age is crucial for healthy growth,” he said in a press release.
He continued and said:
“To foster the development of a healthy balanced diet, both families and schools should offer a diverse range of nutritious meals and cultivate an environment that supports their physical and mental health.”
Previous research suggests that certain dietary patterns may impact mental and cognitive function, but there are still gaps and inconsistencies in our understanding.
To address these gaps, the NMH study analyzed data from 181,990 individuals in the UK Biobank to identify dietary patterns and explore their connections to brain structure, blood biomarkers, genetic changes, mental health, and cognitive function.
Analysis of food preferences and consumption revealed that people fall into one of four main dietary patterns:
Subtype 1—a higher preference for vegetables, fruits, and proteins and a lower preference for starches
Subtype 2—resembles a vegetarian diet, with a higher preference for vegetables and fruit and a lower preference for proteins
Subtype 3—an unhealthy diet low in fiber, with a higher preference for proteins and snacks and a lower preference for vegetables and fruits
Subtype 4—a healthy diet, consisting of balanced preferences among all food groups
Recent research has shown that the food we eat can have an impact on the brain‘s adaptability. This can lead to structural changes that can affect our mental and cognitive health. Also, there is a directional link between mental and cognitive health – this means that mental health can have an impact on our cognitive abilities.
Check out more details in the original study in order to learn how you can protect the health of your brain.
