Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods accelerates the journey towards mental decline.
This was revealed in a new medical study in Brazil.
Ultra-processed foods are high in fat, oil and sugar to improve their taste and shelf life.
Ultra-processed foods include bread, fast foods, sweets, coffees, cakes, snacks, breakfast cereals, chicken and fish nuggets, instant noodles, sugary drinks and sodas.
And needless to say how much the consumption of these foods has increased in the present era.
Previous research reports have shown that consumption of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of obesity, heart and circulatory problems, diabetes and cancer.
Now this new study revealed that consuming these foods is also harmful to mental health and can lead to decline in important brain functions such as analyzing details and making decisions.
The study found that people with high consumption of these foods had a 28% faster rate of brain decline than others, while the performance of vital functions decreased by 25%.
The results of this study were presented during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
The study followed 10,000 Brazilian citizens for 10 years, 50 percent of whom were women, with an average age of 51.
At the beginning and end of the study, brain scans were taken of these individuals and their dietary habits were noted.
Researchers from the University of São Paulo Medical School involved in the study said that people in Brazil get 25 to 30 percent of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, meaning they eat a lot of fast food.
The study found that those who got more than 20 percent of their daily calories from processed foods had a 28 percent higher rate of dementia than those who did not.
The researchers said that people should know that what they eat also affects their brain, so avoid consuming ultra-processed foods available in the market.
In early July 2022, a study from the University of South Australia reported that consuming high-fat or fatty foods not only increases body weight, but such foods are also detrimental to mental health.
A study from the University of South Australia found a clear link between high-fat diets, diabetes and dementia.
During the study, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 30 weeks and found that increased body weight also had negative effects on brain function.
There is growing evidence linking obesity and diabetes to Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said.
During the study, 8-week-old mice were divided into 2 groups, one group was fed a conventional diet while the other was fed a high-fat diet.
The results showed that the mice fed a high-fat diet gained significantly more body weight, increased insulin resistance, and shrank brain volume.
According to researchers, the risk of depression increases by 55% in obese people, while the risk of diabetes is twice as high.
A 2021 study published in the journal Neurology also found that eating a healthy diet is also beneficial for mental health.
The study said that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil and fish improves memory and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.