2023-07-24 19:30:03
A diet that can improve cognitive function in both adults and children has been discovered. The MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, has been proven to enhance memory and concentration. Researchers from the University of Illinois compared the MIND diet with the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and found that only the MIND diet showed a significant positive link with test scores in children. These findings were presented at the NUTRITION 2023 conference in Boston.
The MIND diet emphasizes the consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and recommends certain vegetables, including leafy greens and berries, for better brain health. While the positive effects of this diet have been established for adults, little research has been conducted on children until now. In a study involving 85 children aged 7 to 11, researchers tracked their food intake for seven days and calculated their MIND diet and Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores. Memory, concentration, and cognitive flexibility tests were administered to assess the impact of their dietary patterns on brain health and development. The findings revealed that children who adhered to the MIND diet performed better on all cognitive tests, unlike those with higher Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores.
Although a causal relationship between the MIND diet and improved cognitive functions in school-aged children has not been established, a correlation has been proven. Further research is needed to confirm causality. Moving forward, the researchers plan to investigate the relationship between the MIND diet and attention spans in younger children, including infants and toddlers.
The MIND diet comprises ten recommendations and five foods that are not recommended. The recommendations include consuming green leafy vegetables six times a week, other vegetables daily, olive oil daily, nuts five times a week, berries twice a week, legumes three times a week, whole grain products three times a day, fish once a week, chicken twice a week, and a glass of red wine or grape juice daily (though preferably not at all). The foods not recommended include red meat up to three times a week, less than a tablespoon of butter a day, cheese up to once a day, other cheeses less than twice a week, and cookies, sweets, and other processed foods up to five times a week.
In conclusion, the MIND diet has been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive development and school performance in children. By incorporating specific vegetables and following the recommended guidelines, both adults and children can potentially improve their brain health. Further research is needed to fully understand the causal relationship between the MIND diet and cognitive functions, as well as the effects on younger children.]
#MIND #diet #improves #memory #concentration #children