GOOD NUTRITION AND BRAIN HEALTH

It is in our self-interest to include good nutrition as a part of general home care, health care, and life care.  Most adults know that diets that include larger volumes of fruit, vegetables, fiber and high in omega-3 fats improve both brain function and overall health.

New studies, as reported in the journal, Neurology, are now linking increased cognitive abilities and growth in brain gray matter volume with diets high in omega-3 fats found in baked, broiled and grilled fish.

Fried fish does not deliver the same benefits, even if it is prepared in non-trans fat cooking oils.  The Neurology article is thought to be the first published work that clearly establishes a health link between food intake, products used to prepare meals, measured thinking ability, and brain volumetric changes.

TRANS FATS AND BRAIN HEALTH

Trans fats have long been known to create a range of health issues.  These fats are commonly found in oils used in fast food establishments and other fried food preparation,

Studies have shown that those who consume diets high in trans fats, such as eating a lot of fast food or fried food items, experience a higher degree of brain shrinkage or a loss of volumetric gray brain matter.  This negatively impacts cognitive abilities and produces lower scores when memory and thinking tests are administered as compared with test participants who traditionally had a low trans fat diet.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN IS GOOD FOR THE HEART

Image via Wikipedia

High fat diets are also long known for producing cardio vascular disease which can lead to heart attack or stroke.  Both events can result in low or no blood flow to portions of the subject’s brain, which can trigger a range of serious and difficult health, memory and behavior changes.

The presence of trans fats are also thought to aid the development of certain dementias such as Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia as a result of what these fats do to our brains, circulatory systems,  and general health.

PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT GETS GOVERNMENT INVOLVED

Image via Wikipedia

Believing that some citizens are not well enough informed to properly care for themselves, cities across the country are banning the use of trans fats in restaurant food preparation.

While some mourn this additional loss of personal freedom of choice, public health officials reason that consequences of diets featuring high trans fat intake create an unnecessary burden on publicly funded healthcare than can be easily avoided.  Humans are healthier when trans fats are reduced in diets, thus lowering the costs of publicly funded healthcare.

FAST FOOD INDUSTRY ADJUSTS

Image via Wikipedia

Interestingly, marketing has adjusted quickly for restaurant chains and in food packaging. The absence of trans fats in food preparation and content has become a marketing tool for food item packaging.

Most fast food chains have eliminated their usage of trans fats and advertize that fact. They are even offering healthy alternatives to traditional fried foods on their menus, particularly in children’s meal deals.

SELF CONTROL MUST CATCH UP WITH GOVERNMENT MANDATE

While researchers stress that diet is just one factor to consider regarding brain health, it is an important one that most of us can control.  And if we can’t, many of our local governments will do it for us.

Thank you, Big Brother.