Heat-Treated Foods Increase Cognitive Impairment
A new study shows that consuming as little heat-treated foods as possible is beneficial in protecting the brain
from aging. In a
study in Brazil (ELSA-Brasil), the data of more than 10,000 people over the age of 35
were evaluated. Accordingly, those who use highly heat-treated food
have a greater
decrease in executive and holistic cognitive functions. It has been reported that these foods can affect our cognitive health years later. By adding sugar, oil, salt
to heat-treated foods; low protein and low fiber packaged foods, examples of which include soft drinks, chips, chocolate, candy, ice cream, sweetened
breakfast cereals, packaged soups, chicken nuggets, sausages and fried products is counted. In the study, 10,775 people (average age 50.6) were evaluated 3 times between 2008-2017
. During an average of 8
years of follow-up, holistic cognition was reduced by 28% in those who ate more than 20% of their daily calories from
heat-treated foods, compared to those who received
less than 20% of their calories from heat-treated foods; executive functionality was found to be decreased by 25%
. In some studies, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was found to be lower
lower cognitive performance, lower cerebral volume, and worse memory
performance. In another study, heat-treated meats were associated with all
dementias and Alzheimer's. Because neuroimaging was not performed in the ELSA-Brasil study, potential mechanisms
that could explain the association of high heat-treated food consumption
with cognitive impairment were not investigated. In addition, although some social, demographic and clinical components were arranged
in the analyses, it is stated that additional factors may also affect the results of the study
. Despite these limitations, the research Researchers think that limiting the consumption of heat-treated foods can prevent
cognitive impairment, especially in middle-aged adults. Mc Conway, of the Open University of Milton Keynes in the UK, states that "feeding
large amounts of heat-treated food is not necessarily relevant for cognitive decline"
for the study results. He states that "low consumption does not reduce cognitive impairment, there may be other reasons". Mellor from Aston University in England says “by consuming less heat-treated foods with added sugar, salt and oil; He states that using more vegetables,
fruits, nuts, seeds/seeds, legumes is beneficial for both cognitive
and whole body health.
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