A recently released study discovered that individuals who routinely consumed processed meat along with sugary drinks and snacks that were high in sodium tended to have smaller left hippocampi, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for mental health, learning and memory.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from the Australian National University and Deakin University, also found that older individuals who consumed healthier diets had larger hippocampi.
The researchers concluded that a higher intake of unhealthy food and a lower intake of nutrient-dense foods were each independently linked to a smaller hippocampus volume, noting that their study was the first to show associations between hippocampal volume and diet, which aligned with what had been observed in animal models.
A separate study, which was reported in the “U.S. National Library of Medicine,” delves into the relationship between brain functions and food nutrients.
The study explains that for the longest time, researchers have speculated that the relative sufficiency of some nutrients can influence an individual’s emotions and cognitive processes. Research carried out in the past five years has also provided evidence regarding the impact of dietary factors on certain mechanisms and molecular systems that support mental function.
It is a well-known fact that diet, together with other features, like exercise, plays a key role in shaping brain evolution and cognitive capacity. Additionally, paleontological evidence proposes that there exists a direct correlation between brain size and access to food, noting that even minute differences in diet can have huge effects on reproductive success and survival. The report also explains how gut peptides or hormones such as insulin, glucagon-like peptide, ghrelin and leptin affect cognitive processes and emotions.
In addition to this, the report notes that in India, there is a decreased prevalence of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, which has been linked to diet. The study observes that while many questions regarding diets specifically designed to enhance brain function — questions such as the amount, frequency and type of nutrients that make up healthy brain food — are yet to be answered, researchers are learning more.
Some nutrients that influence the brain’s cognitive function include Omega-3 fatty acids, which improve cognitive decline in the elderly; B vitamins, which are known to positively affect memory performance in women as well as enhance cognitive impairment, as observed in rodent models; and vitamin D, which preserves cognition in the elderly.
The researchers came to the conclusion that integrating this knowledge into designing new treatments could be important in helping fight neurological weaknesses and mental ailments.
A number of companies, including Healthy Extracts Inc. (OTCQB: HYEX), have stepped up to develop clinically proven products packed with nutrients that boost brain health. This comes as it is recognized that it may not be possible to get sufficient amounts of those crucial nutrients from dietary sources alone, hence the need for supplementation.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Healthy Extracts Inc. (OTCQB: HYEX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HYEX
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