Lose Weight to Improve Memory
Do want to remember your wedding anniversary next year? Go on a diet!
The first link between calorie-restricted diets and improved memory in people was seen in a study published Monday in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Although the study was small, involving 50 people ages 50 to 72 who ranged from normal weight to overweight, the calorie-restricted group averaged 20 percent improvement in memory performance. The other groups showed no significant change.
Dr. Agnes Flöel, of the University of Münster in Germany, and a researcher in the study, said the memory improvement might be linked to a decrease in insulin and inflammation in the calorie-restricted participants, who lost four to seven pounds.
In my opinion, maybe those who lost weight had better blood flow to the brain and therefore more nourishment and oxygen helped memory.
In either case, if you want to do well on Jeopardy or remember your kid's birthday or recall all of the words to the Star Spangled Banner, go on a diet and lose weight. You may feel better as well!
