Forget High Fat (Especially the Saturated Kind)
By Editorial Staff
A high-fat diet isn't necessarily as unhealthy as other dietary choices (high
sugar, for example) or even certain high-fat diets (olive oil and other
sources of fat that increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which
helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream). That said, research
suggests seniors should consider forgetting certain high-fat foods or they
may end up forgetting things more – and it may only take a few days.
Memory may be impaired after only three days of eating a diet high in saturated fat – the kind that increases levels of cholesterol, particularly the "bad" kind (low-density lipoprotein, etc.). Researchers used a rat model to compare how the diet (compared with their regular grain-based diet) impacted young vs. old rats, finding that older rats performed poorly on memory tests and also showed evidence of brain inflammation.
The saturated fat diet appeared to cause metabolic issues, gut inflammation and negative gut bacteria changes in both age groups, as might be expected. However, the importance of these study findings lies in the fact that the memory and brain inflammation issues occurred separately and more rapidly.
Is fat important in a healthy diet? Yes. Dietary fat provides energy, assists in the absorption of nutrients, supports cell function and more. The key is to prioritize the "good" fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish (salmon, etc.). Talk to your doctor for more information.
