Carb Restricting Diets Affect Memory?
A new study shows that eliminating carbs from your diet will not only trim your waistline, but could leave your memory a little lighter as well.
The study, performed by Tufts University, included 19 women who were closely monitored after starting a very low-carb diet similar to the Atkins Diet. Several short-term and long-term memory tests were conducted prior to starting the diet. Results revealed that in the weeks to follow, the no-carb group performed significantly worse in memory tests than others following a low calorie program.
Although other scientists feel that more research is needed before long term affects of “no-carb” diets can be determined, there is no question that carbohydrates play a vital role in our daily health. Other studies on no-carb diets revealed an impact to motor skills but no evident impact on memory.
I feel the discussion on low carbohydrate diets is better served with a little education. Not all carbs are equal. For example, the carbohydrates you ingest from a cinnamon bun that is loaded with sugar is very different from that of a slice of whole wheat bread. But because of the popularity of high protien diets, many of us becoming programmed to scan nutritional labels just for carbohydrates ignoring other important values such as saturated fats and sugars.
Regardless of the side effects, carbohydrates are the best source of energy for our mind and body. Modern nutritional research is showing that the best diet in terms of long-term health is one rich in fruits and vegetables, low in fat, with complex carbohydrates and protein making up the balance. For an example of a low carb diet check out our article on the Atkins Diet meal plans
Article Source: WebMD
photo credit: ebbdog
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