Maintainin​g Normal Weight and Other Key Health Factors Affect Brain Function

A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in products such as soy milk and low-fat yogurt, has been shown to reduce breast cancer incidence in rats. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nutritious dietary intake and maintaining

healthy weight is good for your brain…

Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a normal weight helps protect your brain, according to a 10-year study of 6,401 British civil servants.

Participants in the study (initially ages 39-63) were less likely to have impaired cognitive function if they were not overweight or obese.

Those with multiple markers of “metabolic abnormality” were more likely to suffer impaired cognitive function; these markers included high cholesterol or triglycerides, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, high glucose levels or diabetes.

In followup mental testing at the 5 and 10-year points, those who were both obese and “metabolically abnormal” were significantly more likely to show a faster rate of cognitive decline.

Researchers speculated that vascular problems associated with unhealthy weight might affect brain function, along with specific fat-related secretions that impact the aging brain.

Journal Reference: Neurology

This article is for informational and educational purposes only;  It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your doctor or healthcare professional.

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New Study Reports Soluble Fibre May Reduce Belly Fat

Increased consumption or soluble fibre may reduce the amount of deep belly fat that people accumulate, according to new research. The study has been published in Nature’s Journal “Obesity” found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fibre eaten per day, deep belly visceral fat was reduced by 3.7 per cent over five years.

The researchers also reported that increased moderate activity resulted in a 7.4 per cent decrease in the rate of visceral fat accumulation over the same time. It is important to recognize that visceral fat is known to be more dangerous than subcutaneous found near the skin.

“Our study is valuable because it provides specific information on how dietary fibre, especially soluble fibre, may affect weight accumulation through abdominal fat deposits; “Making a few simple changes can have a big health impact.”said researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre, USA.

The research team examined whether lifestyle factors, including diet and frequency of exercise, were associated with a five-year change in abdominal fat of people who are disproportionally at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes and accumulating visceral fat.

The researchers reported that intake of dietary soluble fibre was associated with a decreased rate of visceral fat, but not the accumulation of subcutaneous fat;

“Results from the current study reveal that increased consumption of soluble fibre led to a decreased rate of visceral adipose tissue accumulation, suggesting that increased soluble fibre intake may be instrumental in slowing this natural progression,” said the researchers.

Fat Risk…
The negative effects of obesity has been associated with hypertension, blood lipid imbalances, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and type-2 diabetes.

“Studies indicate a direct relationship between levels of visceral adipose tissue and future risk of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes,” they added.

“We [also] know that a higher rate of visceral fat is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes and fatty liver disease,” they emphasized.

The researchers noted that increasing dietary fibre has been specifically recomended to help fight weight gain, with many previous studies suggesting a link between fibre intake and levels of obesity.

Source: Obesity (Published online)
“Lifestyle Factors and 5-Year Abdominal Fat Accumulation in a Minority Cohort: The IRAS Family Study”

This article is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult with your doctor or healthcare professional for medical and nutrition advice.