Dieting May Be Hurting Your Brain, Claims Study


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In a recent Duke University study, scientists found that eating a little more of that junk food we're always trying to resist may not be so bad after all.

Researchers have found that controlling yourself from eating certain foods can actually have negative effects on your noggin, specifically your memory. In what sounds like great news for snack lovers, the study, based on brain scans, showed that self-discipline can sap our ability to remember and process key facts and information. The scans revealed that focusing on trying to restrain ourselves from, say, reaching for another handful of potato chips or going for that extra slice of cake, affects the same parts of the brain devoted to attention and memory.

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The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, involved a simple memory test involving images to see how self-discipline affects the process of remembering and recognition. Participants were shown a total of 120 different faces on a screen. They were asked to push a button if the face was male, and not push the button if the face was female. Next, they were given a surprise memory test: they had to indicate whether or not the face on the screen was new or used in the last task (whether it was familiar to them). Researchers found that participants did worse on identifying faces that they were not required to press the button on before. In other words, when they had to inhibit their response, participants had a harder time remembering the face later.

Scientists say the study may be beneficial later on when developing new treatments for conditions such as ADHD or addiction.

So the next time you're thinking of putting that extra piece of chocolate back in the box, just remember—it might help your memory later if you indulge now!


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