Sugar and Fat rich diet may reduce cognitive functioning

A study proved that “high-fat and high-sugar diets trigger changes in gut bacteria that are largely associated with loss of "cognitive flexibility" which is the ability to adapt to changing situations”.
 
Oregon State University researchers carried out a study of mice fed a high-fat or high-sugar diet discovered a correlation between changes in their gut bacteria and their ability to adapt to change, indicating that a typical Western diet might inhibit cognitive flexibility.

Professor Kathy Magnusson said that it was increasingly clear that the gut bacteria or microbiota can communicate with the human brain. She also said that bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters which stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system and affect a wide range of biological functions.

The researcher added that this work suggests that fat and sugar alters a person’s healthy bacterial systems and that’s one of the reasons why such products should not be consumed. The research was published in Journal Neuroscience.

By Lizitha