A diet high in sugar can interfere with brain health, but omega-3 supplements may help counteract some of the negative effects of sweeteners, according to a new study published in the Journal of Physiology.
The University of California, Los Angeles, researchers who conducted the study said the findings illustrate like few investigations before how important dietary choices are to cognitive function. The results should encourage more people to consider the negative effects of consuming too much sugar.
Findings from the study are based on a trial conducted in mice. The researchers administered high-sugar diets to two groups of mice. One section also had their food supplemented with omega-3s.
The results showed that the animals that did not receive the omega-3-supplemented feed experienced learning and memory deficits. However, the researchers did not observe these complications in the mice that had their feed supplemented.
“Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, who led the study. “Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.”
The findings highlight what could end up being a widespread problem. Consumption of fructose has increased dramatically in recent years, as food manufacturers now add the ingredient to many products. The researchers pointed out that the average American now consumes 40 pounds of fructose each year.
This trend may lead to serious cognitive deficits, but simply consuming more omega-3s could help to counteract this brain health threat.
Oily fish are recognized as being among the best food sources of omega-3s, but individuals can also use nutritional supplements to increase their intake of the fatty acids.
