In The News: Eating Junk Food Can Shrink Your Brain?!

There is plenty of evidence that a poor diet can take a toll on health, namely promoting chronic disease, and now another study has pointed to yet another deleterious effect of consuming too much junk food- it can actually shrink your brain!!

A small study, recently conducted in Australia with 250 participants aged 60-64, demonstrated that those participants that had a higher intake of sugary drinks, salty snack foods and processed meats had smaller hippocampal volumes, while those who more consumed fruits, vegetables and fish had bigger hippocampal volumes. These results persisted even after being adjusted for smoking, exercise and gender. The hippocampus is the part of the brain associated with memory, learning and mood regulation,  so this is a key finding.

Although this study does not prove a cause/effect relationship, and is more an association, the researchers note "This latest study sheds light on at least one of the pathways by which eating an unhealthy diet may influence the risk for dementia, cognitive decline and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety in older people.” 

So, this is just another reason to ditch junk foods and consume more whole, natural and healthful foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and nuts. Say good bye to a sugar laden soda and substitute my antioxidant rich Blueberry-Nana Pineapple Smoothie  And, lose the fries and try my Super Smoky Sweet Potato Chips for more vitamins and minerals and less fat as well!