Scientists from Australia have found that ultra-processed foods, such as chips, not only contribute to weight gain but also directly affect brain function, impairing cognitive abilities. The findings were reported by the Daily Mail.
According to the publication, researchers analyzed the diets of 2,200 adults aged 40 to 70. The data showed that every additional 10% of ultra-processed foods in a person’s daily diet — roughly equivalent to one standard bag of chips — resulted in a “noticeable and measurable decline in concentration ability.” The effect was observed regardless of the overall healthiness of the participants’ diets.
Lead author Barbara Cardoso noted that ultra-processing destroys the natural structure of food and introduces potentially harmful substances, kp.ru reports.
Among these substances are acrylamide, which forms during the frying of starchy foods, as well as phthalates and bisphenols. According to the researcher, the latter compounds may contribute to cerebrovascular damage — tiny areas of injured brain tissue caused by vascular problems — leading to difficulties with concentration and an increased risk of dementia.
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