THE ESSENTIAL
- The Mediterranean diet not only protects our health: it also boosts our cognitive abilities via the intestinal microbiota, according to an American study.
- Carried out on rats, it revealed that this diet, rich in olive oil, fish and fiber, promotes beneficial bacteria (Candidatus Saccharimonas) and improves memory and cognitive flexibility.
- Conversely, a Western diet, loaded with saturated fats, is associated with less favorable bacteria (Bifidobacterium) and poorer performance.
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-chronic disease… The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well established. By modifying our intestinal microbiota, this type of diet could even strengthen our cognitive abilities. This is what reveals new research from Tulane University, in the United States, published in the journal Gut Microbes Reports.
A link between gut and brain
This study carried out on rats shows that the Mediterranean diet, rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, olive oil and fish, transforms the composition of the intestinal flora. By comparison, rodents fed a Western diet, loaded with saturated fats and sugars, had a less diverse intestinal flora. These bacterial differences were accompanied by better cognitive performance in the former: increased memory, cognitive flexibility and faster adaptation to new information.
Researchers observed increased levels of certain bacteria, such as Candidatus Saccharimonas, in them, associated with better memory. Conversely, bacteria like Bifidobacterium, more present in rats fed a Western diet, were linked to poorer memory. “Our results suggest that what we eat influences our cognitive performance, probably by reshaping our gut microbiota”summarize the researchers in a press release.
An invitation to change our lifestyle habits
Although this study was performed on rodents, it provides valuable clues about the effects of the Mediterranean diet in young humans. The rats, “equivalent” to 18-year-old adolescents, showed that their microbiota could influence their cognitive and physical development. Scientists see this as an opportunity to improve academic or professional performance among young adults.
To benefit from the benefits of this diet, you must therefore focus on: olive oil as the main source of fat; plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains for fiber; fish and lean proteins; limited consumption of red meats and saturated fats.
Health
