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Written By: Agencies | Updated : September 15, 2015 10:34 AM IST
You know the reason you should stay away from junk food--it contains trans fat that are not good for your heart. They increase your blood cholesterol levels, they are high in salt and can cause hypertension etc. Even if you are aware of these facts it is difficult to completely shun them from your diet and the reason for this is the fault in your genes. But this addiction is not only dangerous to your physical health. But according to a new study can also affect your brain.
The study claims that the part of the brain associated with learning, memory and mental health is smaller in people who regularly consume unhealthy foods such as sweet drinks, salty snacks and processed meats. The study was conducted in people over the age of 60, but the findings hold true for people from all ages. 'We have known for some time that components of diet, both healthy and unhealthy, have a rapid impact on aspects of the brain that affect hippocampal size and function, but up until now these studies have only been done in rats and mice,' said lead study author Felice Jacka, associate professor at Deakin University School of Medicine in Geelong, Australia. Read: 10 horrible things junk food does to your body
'This is the first study to show that this also appears to be the case for humans,' Jacka noted. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure the size of hippocampi (there are two in the brain - left and right) in Australian adults aged 60-64 years. Older adults who ate more unhealthy foods, such as sweet drinks, salty snacks and processed meats, had smaller left hippocampi, the findings showed. Those who ate more nutrient-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruits and fish, had larger left hippocampi. These findings have relevance for both dementia and mental health, Jacka said. 'As the hippocampus is critical to learning and memory throughout life, as well as being a key part of the brain involved in mental health, this study underscores the importance of good nutrition for children, adolescents and adults of all ages,' she pointed out. The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine. Read: Healthy foods that are tastier than junk food
Source: IANS
Image source: Getty Images
