Brain Research
Study:
A study from Tufts University examined the effect of low-carbohydrate weight loss diets on cognition and mood. Participants included 19 women ages 22 to 25, who selected either a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-calorie, macronutrient balanced diet recommended by the American Dietetic Association. The dieters completed 5 testing sessions that were held over the course of 3 weeks.
Results:
When dieters eliminated carbohydrates from their meals, they performed more poorly on memory-based tasks than when they reduced calories but maintained carbohydrates. Additionally, reaction time for those on the low-carb diet was slower, and their visuospatial memory was not as good as those on the low-calorie diet; however, low-carb dieters did actually respond better during the attention vigilance task. Interestingly, after the dieters resumed eating carbohydrates, their cognition skills returned to normal. According to Holly Taylor, professor of psychology at Tufts, this study demonstrates that “the food you eat can have an immediate impact on cognitive behavior.” Although the researchers concede that the study’s sample size was small and tracked data for a short period, the study does demonstrate, according to Taylor, that “the brain needs glucose for energy, and diets low in carbohydrates can be detrimental to learning, memory, and thinking.”
No comments:
Post a Comment