This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain on Food...
Brains, by nature, are kind of weird and mysterious. And the latest research shows that what we eat can have an effect on our brains... and vice versa! Here's the deal:
What we put into our bodies can mess with our heads. Overeating tends to physically slow us down, of course, and new research shows that consuming more than 2,100 calories a day can DOUBLE the risk of memory loss among those in their 70s and 80s. Results of another study suggest that a high-fat diet could actually cause lasting damage to a part of the brain that's crucial for weight control. So do your brain and your body a favor, and set good habits now. On the flip side, our minds play a big part in what we eat. When it comes to selecting which foods to buy, one study found that claims made on packaging could influence our perception of how those products will taste. Specifically, those who knew the cookies they were eating were sugar-free found the cookies to be less appealing than those who didn't have any information. Crazy! And when you're feeling hungry, doesn't it seem like everything associated with food grabs your attention? In a newly published study, both food-related words and neutral words were quickly flashed in front of subjects; hungry participants identified the food-centric words more often and more clearly than those who had just eaten. Fascinating stuff, people. Think before you chew, but don't overthink it!
What we put into our bodies can mess with our heads. Overeating tends to physically slow us down, of course, and new research shows that consuming more than 2,100 calories a day can DOUBLE the risk of memory loss among those in their 70s and 80s. Results of another study suggest that a high-fat diet could actually cause lasting damage to a part of the brain that's crucial for weight control. So do your brain and your body a favor, and set good habits now. On the flip side, our minds play a big part in what we eat. When it comes to selecting which foods to buy, one study found that claims made on packaging could influence our perception of how those products will taste. Specifically, those who knew the cookies they were eating were sugar-free found the cookies to be less appealing than those who didn't have any information. Crazy! And when you're feeling hungry, doesn't it seem like everything associated with food grabs your attention? In a newly published study, both food-related words and neutral words were quickly flashed in front of subjects; hungry participants identified the food-centric words more often and more clearly than those who had just eaten. Fascinating stuff, people. Think before you chew, but don't overthink it!
Until Monday - Keep thinking veggies and protein!
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