Ladies and gentlemen, I was fortunate to discover precious scientific data confirming dietary effects on the human psyche. I want to share two videos with two experts on this topic. First, Mrs. Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D., a Senior Scientist at USDA Nutrition Center, Tufts University, and a Prof. of Nutrition at Tufts. She is also a director of the energy metabolism lab at the USDA.
Mrs. Roberts discussed the relationship between a healthy diet and a healthy brain. Namely, she answered two questions:
how does childhood diet affect cognitive development?
can a good diet prevent or reverse cognitive decline as we age?
Society has accepted the fact that a diet determines the health of the body, yet, somehow, we've missed an obvious elephant in the room, and that is: the brain consumes approximately 20% of energy. The quality of energy we intake determines the health and functionality of the human brain.
The brain is the most vulnerable organ and is highly reactive to dietary choices. Here lies the problem: modern diets are low in all essential nutrients. Mrs. Roberts' team performed a test, proving that diets play a determining role in developing a child's brain and cognitive functions. However, they also discovered the brain's miraculous self-regeneratory properties. Namely, children suffering due to poor diets have quickly recovered, and their cognitive functions have skyrocketed. A healthy diet enhances blood flow to the brain and improves cognitive functions, increasing IQ.
Unfortunately, due to financial status, many pregnant women suffer from a deficiency in most nutrients, leading to newborns being born with lower IQs and underdeveloped brains. The typical western diet can be considered a health threat. A modern diet promotes obesity. According to Mrs. Roberts, obesity speeds up cognitive decline.
We are in a vicious cycle because even "healthy" products are contaminated. For instance, fish are full of microplastics and toxic elements, while the agricultural industry has a habit of soaking vegetables and fruits with cancerogenic substances.
Is there a way out?
The second video is by Mr. Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Mr. Willett is an author of a best-selling book: Eat, Drink, and be Healthy!
He agrees that to have a healthier society, first, we must overcome financial problems because most people (despite overwhelming knowledge) cannot afford to eat healthily. Mr. Willett's work provided the most detailed information on the long-term consequences of food choices, which are staggering.
Our society is facing disproportionate levels of obesity, which leads to insurmountable health issues, including diabetes type II, cardiovascular disease, and other severe conditions associated with unhealthy dietary choices.
Mr. Willett also confirms that diet affects our cognitive functions. According to his studies, a healthy diet and lifestyle can prevent about 92% of type II diabetes!
Here is a video:
