Eating a green Mediterranean diet may benefit the brain, according to a study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
- The Green Mediterranean Diet incorporates the fundamentals of the Mediterranean diet while emphasizing plant proteins and other whole, unprocessed plant foods.
- Obese people who lose weight thanks to this diet, record a slowing down of the aging of their brain.
- Researchers thus advocate the adoption of a healthy diet for brain health.
Obesity is a disease that can have consequences on the physical and cognitive health of those who suffer from it. However, a study conducted by researchers from Ben Gurion University of tea Negev revealed that adopting a green Mediterranean diet can help rejuvenate the brain in addition totrain weight loss.
Brain : he looks 9 months younger with the Mediterranean diet Green
The team took over the medical records and brain scans of 102 people with obesity who took part in the 18-month clinical trial called DIRECT PLUS.
The results of the study published in the scientific journal e-life showed that a 1% reduction in body weight in obese people following a green Mediterranean diet caused their brains to look almost 9 months younger than their expected brain age. This process was associated with positive changes in other biological measures, such as reduced liver fat and liver enzymes. “Increased liver fat and the production of specific liver enzymes have previously been shown to negatively affect brain health in Alzheimer’s disease”explain the authors in their communicated released June 1, 2023.
The benefits of a healthy lifestyle for the brain
These findings underscore the importance of a healthy lifestyle in maintaining overall brain health. Adopting a green Mediterranean diet can be a first step in maintaining brain health while enabling weight loss in obese people.
The green Mediterranean diet favors unprocessed plant foods that are high in plant protein. This diet gives pride of place to vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and olive oil.
“Our study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including reduced consumption of processed foods, sweets and beverages, in maintaining brain health”says author Dr. Gidon Levakov.
“We were encouraged to find that even a 1% weight loss was enough to affect brain health and lead to a 9-month reduction in brain age”adds his colleague Professor Galia Avidan.
