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Does junk food make you stupid?

A study, published in Neuroscience magazine, argues that people who eat mostly junk food have lower cognitive abilities. Another hypothesis is that they have difficulty adapting to changes in environment or situation.

Researchers at the University of Oregon conducted a series of tests on mice. They imposed diets composed of different amounts of sugar and fat. After four weeks of observation, the researchers found a fairly obvious connection between the level of gut bacteria in each mouse's system and their cognitive abilities. The intestinal bacteria, which play a beneficial role on the body and the brain, were less effective when eating fatty foods.

According to University scientists, the level of probiotics (bacteria that help with immune defense) in the system is directly related to an individual's ability to adapt.

Kathy Magnusson, Professor of the College of Veterinary Medicine explains, “Bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters, stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system and affect a wide range of biological functions…Suggesting that fat and sugar alters your bacterial system…That's why these foods are not good for you. »

The University of California concluded in 2013 that women who followed a probiotic diet had disastrous results on cognitive tests.