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Effects of SUGAR on MEMORY!
Friday, March 24, 2023 11:52 AM
Have you ever had an embarrassing lapse in memory? A time when you've forgotten a name? Or "zoned out" in a conversation... and the other party had to "remind" you what the topic was?
This is a very real condition. Many of us are literally "losing our minds" as we grow older. But we don't like the "age-related" aspect of the term that mainstream medicine has put on this condition. It is not the only factor affecting memory.
Human beings can live to a very ripe old age - well into our 90s and beyond – without losing our memory... our cognition... and our ability to concentrate. I am sure you know of some older person with a very sharp mind.
But cognitive decline is not primarily "age-related." It is lifestyle related. That's because the true underlying cause of most cases of dementia, Alzheimer's and other degenerative brain conditions is a lifetime of chemical and dietary assaults to the brain. Some of these can be difficult to avoid entirely - like the mercury, lead, arsenic, and other chemicals that pollute our atmosphere, food, and water.
But there are many things that we consciously do to our bodies that can harm our brains - especially over a long period of time. And one of the most damaging is to consume a high-glycemic diet.
Volumes of research show that eating too much sugar and high-glycemic carbohydrates can cause almost all the brain problems associated with "growing older." In fact, the correlation is so strong that some scientists are calling Alzheimer's disease, "type 3" diabetes. We are referring to white sugar, high fructose corn syrup or any other work ending in “ose”.
And research continues to confirm the link. One study, published in the Annals of Neurology, focused on an area of the hippocampus known as the "dentate gyrus." This region of the brain is critical for memory and learning. It is also where most new neurons are formed. As you can imagine, the formation of new neurons (or lack thereof) is critical to an aging brain.
The researchers conducted brain scans on humans and animals. They found that damage to the dentate gyrus is highly correlated with high blood sugar. What's more, it doesn't take off-the-charts levels or the presence of diabetes to critically damage this memory and learning center.
So, think about that the next time you indulge in sugar-sweetened treats, bread, and other high-glycemic carbohydrates. There's nothing in life more valuable than the memories we create.
The good news is that you can maintain your memory for many years to come by enjoying a low-glycemic diet packed with brain foods like:
• Wild fish
• Organic omega-3-rich eggs
• Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
• Raw nuts and seeds
• Nutrient-packed organic veggies
• Grass-fed meats
The choice is yours. But you must take responsibility for your own health. You must make smart decisions about your lifestyle, the products you use, and the foods you eat. To make those smart decisions, you must stay educated.
That said if your eating habits are usually very good, a few indulgences won’t be the end of the world. The few times should be limited to when you are out or visiting friends and can’t be avoided. But even then, there are always good options, like having a salad with olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice (many restaurants will bring you olive oil and vinegar upon request to make your own dressing), avoid bread, pasta, and dessert when out. You can make your own healthy dessert to have at home. There are healthier options when it comes to sugar, like coconut sugar, honey, date sugar, stevia, etc.
We pledge to help you do that by providing the tools and the knowledge you need to live to your healthiest potential.