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Sugar Makes You Stupid

Margarine makes you aggressive and sugar makes you stupid. Those are certainly two reasons to stay away from fast food!

A new study of rats shows that a diet high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning. Fructose is the type of sugar in fruit drinks--and also in sodas, which are sweetened with high-fructose syrup made from corn.

Neuroscientist Fernando Gomez-Pinilla says, "Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think. Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information." High school and college students: Don't mainline candy bars and junk food while studying for tests!


If you're still planning to indulge, then also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds, or take a daily DHA capsule. Gomez-Pinilla says, "Our findings suggest that consuming DHA regularly protects the brain against fructose's harmful effects. It's like saving money in the bank. You want to build a reserve for your brain to tap when it requires extra fuel to fight off future diseases."


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