In addition to increasing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular problems, diabetes and cancer, ultra-processed foods can affect our brain. According to researchers from the University of Sao Paulo, getting more than 20% of your daily caloric intake from these foods would cause a cognitive decline accelerated by 28% compared to those who consume little or nothing.
In their study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, the researchers define these processed foods as “food substances that contain little or no whole foods and generally include flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers and other cosmetic additives”.
Super-processed foods responsible for brain inflammation
For 10 years, between 2008 and 2019, they followed 10,000 people aged 51 on average. Each participant consumed an average of 785 calories from processed foods per day, or about 27% of its diet. After having them complete questionnaires on their eating habits and passing tests on word recognition or even verbal fluency, the researchers found that those who consumed the most processed foods were those who had the highest rate of decline. stronger.
The cause ? These foods”are typically very high in sugar, salt, and fats, all of which promote systemic inflammation, perhaps the most significant threat to a healthy aging in body and brainRudy Tanzi, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study, told CNN.
Often considered convenient and easy to consume, these foods are gradually replacing a healthy diet rich in vegetable fiber, which maintain the good health of the intestinal microbiome, and by extension, the good health of the brain and thus the reduction of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. “58% of the calories consumed by American citizens, 56.8% of those consumed by British citizens and 48% of those consumed by Britons come from ultra-processed foods”regrets Professor Claudia Suemoto, one of the authors of the study.
Learn to cook at home
The researchers therefore call on consumers to cook themselves and to eat more healthy foods such as cereals, vegetables and even fish. “People need to know that they should cook more and prepare their own food from scratch. I know. We say we don’t have time, but it really doesn’t take long”continues Dr. Suemoto.
“And it’s worth it because you’ll protect your heart and protect your brain from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease”, she finishes. “That’s the take-home message: stop buying stuff that’s super-processed.”
Sources:
- AAIC 2022, Alzheimer’s Association
- Cognitive decline linked to ultraprocessed food, study finds, CNNAugust 1, 2022
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