In a recent study at the University of Warwick, researchers examined the effects of food on physical and mental health.
Their research shows a deep connection between food choices and brain health, showing that a nutritious, balanced diet is associated with improved brain health, cognitive function, and general well-being.
Using data-driven methods, scientists divided 181,990 UK Biobank participants into four dietary categories: ‘no or low starch’, ‘vegetarian’, ‘high protein and low fibre’ and ‘balanced’.
These dietary methods are then examined with various physical assessments, cognitive function tests, blood biomarkers, brain imaging and genetic analysis, elucidating the complex relationship between nutrition and general health.
The dietary characteristics of participants collected through an online survey were divided into ten categories, including alcohol, fruit, and meat. Researchers use machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, to analyze vast databases.
The results show that people who follow a balanced diet show better mental health, cognitive ability, and even increased gray matter in the brain, a key indicator of cognition, compared to those with less varied eating habits.
Research also shows the importance of gradual dietary changes, especially for people who are used to eating tasty but low-nutrition foods.
Professor Jianfeng Feng, a renowned author at the University of Warwick, said it was important to identify healthy foods at an early stage.
To encourage the development of a healthy balanced diet, families and schools must offer a variety of nutritious foods and foster an environment that supports physical and mental health.”
Prof. Feng emphasized the importance of public policy in promoting accessible and affordable healthy eating practices to address the broad implications of research.
“As food choices can be influenced by socio-economic status, it is important that this does not prevent people from adopting a healthy balanced diet profile,” he said.
Co-author Wei Cheng Fudan University added: “Our research demonstrates the link between diet and brain health, calling for a concerted effort to increase nutritional awareness and promote healthy eating habits among diverse populations.”
Dr Richard Pemberton, a certified lifestyle doctor and GP at Hexagon Health, who was not involved in the study, said: “This exciting research shows that a poor diet is not only detrimental to our physical health, but also to our mental and brain health.
This study supports the urgent need for government action to improve the health of our children while protecting future generations. We hope this will provide additional evidence to encourage us all to make better lifestyle choices, improve our health and reduce our risk of developing chronic disease.
