Balanced diet more beneficial for brain health, study finds

#balanceddiet #brainhealth #nutrition
A study published in the journal Nature Mental Health explored how dietary patterns impacted a number of areas of brain health, including mental health, cognitive function, metabolic biomarkers, and brain structure as measured using MRI.
People can develop preferences for certain foods, which can impact overall dietary patterns over time. Recently, growing evidence has highlighted the profound impact of dietary patterns on health, including chronic medical diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancer, as well as mental health and/or cognitive impairments such as major depression disorders and anxiety.
Previous research has confirmed the significant connection between diet and mental health, particularly cognitive functions. For instance, a systematic review found that a higher intake of simple carbohydrates is linked to lower cognitive performance. Saturated fatty acids are associated with impaired memory and learning and protein intake may improve executive function and working memory.
In the study, researchers analyzed UK Biobank data on food preferences across categories like dairy, fruits, alcohol, and vegetables. They studied how these preferences related to various brain-related outcomes, including mental health indicators like anxiety and depression symptoms, cognitive function, blood biochemistry, brain structure via MRI, and genetic risk scores for mental disorders.
The researchers found that the balanced dietary group had the most positive outcomes, with lower scores for mental health issues and higher well-being. They also had better reaction times and cognitive performance compared to other groups. Additionally, they exhibited higher levels of gray matter in certain brain areas. However, the vegetarian group had a higher genetic risk for various mental disorders, while the high-protein, low-fiber group had a higher genetic risk for ischemic stroke.
“This study found that a ‘healthier’ diet with balanced preferences in various food categories — fruit, vegetables, starches, protein, and snack foods, are associated with better mental health status, higher levels of cognitive functions and fewer risks of mental disorders,” said Molly Rapozo, RDN, registered dietician nutritionist, and senior nutrition and health educator at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA

Check full updates on Medical Dialogues

Also check out –
Medical Dialogues Academy, a renowned academic wing of Medical Dialogues – India’s premier health and news online portal, proudly presents this comprehensive course tailored for healthcare professionals eager to delve into the realm of medical journalism.

🔗 Enroll Today: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/certificate-course-in-medical-journalism/

📚 Explore More With Us:
📌 Medical Content Writing: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/medical-content-writing/
📌 Certificate Course in Pharmaceutical Medico-Marketing: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/certificate-course-in-pharmaceutical-medico-marketing/

Join us on this enlightening journey and become a part of a community pushing the boundaries of healthcare communication and reporting.
Get the latest medical and health news at medicaldialogues.in
Follow us on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/medicaldialogs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medicaldialogues/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medicaldialogues
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medical-dialogues
Website: https://medicaldialogues.in/