Have you ever thought about how WHAT you eat, impacts how you think? Well perhaps you should.
Findings from a huge research study involving almost 28000 participants from all over the world, reported in Neurology found that those who ate healthy foods which included fruit, vegetables especially leafy greens and beans, nuts, seeds and legumes and wholegrain, were less likely to experience cognitive decline.
Now what is cognitive decline I hear you asking?
Let’s start with cognition. Cognition is a term referring to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. These cognitive processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging and problem solving. These are higher-level functions of the brain and encompass language, imagination, perception, and planning. Basically we want our cognition to remain as healthy as possible.
Cognitive decline is, simply, when the brain stops working as well as it used to. It isn’t the same as cognitive impairment, which is the result of damage or disease. Cognitive decline is caused by natural processes such as ageing. We don’t really want to experience cognitive decline if we can help it.
And here’s where the research comes in. We CAN help it. We can reduce our risk of experiencing cognitive decline as we age, by choosing healthy food options. So go on, treat yourself to that berry smoothie, vegetable salad or plant based curry. Your brain will thank you for it.