Los dried fruits take center stage due to their important effect on preserve las cognitive functions. Although the key will be in the daily doses.
The strongest support for this recommendation comes from the results of a study carried out by the team of researchers led by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute and the area of Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition from the CIBER of Spain.
According to this survey, a weekly moderate consumption of nuts is associated with the protection of memory and so on intellectual abilities.
The study – as reported by the El Español site – was published in the magazine Age and Ageing and makes visible how those people who consume between three and seven servings of 30 grams of nuts every week they kept a better cognitive function.
The reason, following the El Español note, is that its regular intake generates changes in the microbiota intestinal that, upon reaching brainwould improve the cognitive function.
To do this, data from 747 participants, with an average age of 65 years, and with overweight, obesity or metabolic syndrome, were taken into account, with the aim of identifying preventive strategies focused on modifiable factors to deal with diseases that affect the cognitive health.
Regarding these results, Jordi Salas-Salvadó -Professor of Nutrition and Bromatology of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, of the Rovira i Virgili University and director of the study – expressed:
“These findings open new avenues of research on the modulating role of diet on microbiota intestinal and its possible effects on the brain«. At the same time, he emphasized the daily doses ingested, as a fundamental point to achieve these effects.
The era of prevention
Salas-Salvadó He also adds: “As there are no effective treatments to stop the progression of cognitive impairmentresearchers highlight the important contribution of eating habits.”
«In the context of aging global population and the increase in cases of dementiathe study highlights the importance of simple, accessible and evidence-based dietary interventions.”
A handful of benefits
As a conclusion: “A bunch of nuts a day can be a smart strategy to promote a healthy cognitive aging«he stressed Salas-Salvadó.
As for the most recommended variety, another Spanish study – this time from Pere Virgili Health Research Institute and of Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute– privileges walnuts.
According to this survey, their differential advantage is that they are rich in alpha-linolenic fatty acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 which plays a fundamental role in the brain development.
On the other hand, to improve their absorption and digestibility, it is advisable to soak them for eight hours and then rinse them very well.
