A new study from the University of Edinburgh has found that people who consume a Mediterranean-style diet have better thinking skills when analyzed. The diet, which consists of mostly green leafy vegetables and is low in meat, has been linked to many health benefits across various studies.
These latest findings add to the mounting evidence that suggests a plant-based Mediterranean-style diet has benefits for cognitive functioning later in later. For the study, researchers tested the thinking skills of more than 500 people aged 79. None of the participants had dementia.
Advertisement
Each participant was required to complete tests involving problem-solving, thinking speed, memory, and word knowledge. They were also directed to fill out a questionnaire about their eating habits during the previous year. Over half the participants also underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan to test for their brain structure.
Researchers used statistical models to look for associations between participant diet habits, thinking skills, and brain health later in life.
It was found that, in general, participants who followed a Mediterranean-style diet had the highest cognitive function scores. Results were adjusted for childhood IQ, physical activity, smoking, and other related health factors. These differences were small but statistically significant.
Dr. Janie Corley concluded the study by saying, “Eating more green leafy vegetables and cutting down on red meat might be two key food elements that contribute to the benefits of the Mediterranean-style diet. In our sample, the positive relationship between a Mediterranean diet and thinking skills is not accounted for by having a healthier brain structure, as one might expect. Though it’s possible there may be other structural or functional brain correlates with this measure of diet, or associations in specific regions of the brain, rather than the whole brain, as measured here.”
No Relationship to Better Brain Health
While the study did find a link between diet and thinking skills, it did not find a connection to better brain health. Researchers also note that grey and white matter volume, markers of healthy brain aging, did not differ between those regularly eating a plant-based diet and those who did not.
A Mediterranean diet has been found to have many health benefits for overall health and many experts believe it is one of the best ways to eat to stay healthy. In fact, it has been credited as the reason why so many southern European regions have such high life expectancy. Inspired by Spain, Italy, and Greece’s eating habits in the 1960s, the principal aspects include high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables. It also includes high consumption of fish and very little meat.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
