Research shows that people who eat a bag of popcorn every day have a lower risk of dementia.
Researchers at Rush University in Chicago made the discovery after observing 3,300 people for six years and testing their cognitive abilities.
They found that those who ate three ounces or more of whole grains — such as lightly salted popcorn, quinoa or breakfast cereal — had smaller declines in cognitive scores than those who barely ate the food.
Researchers observed the effect only in black participants, who made up 60 percent of the study participants.
They may not have seen the same thing in white participants, either because there were too few participants in the study or because they ate whole grains much less often than their peers.
Researchers at Rush University in Chicago made the discovery after observing 3,300 people for six years and testing their perception twice (archive image)
Whole grains are rich in fiber, which slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
It prevents sugar spikes, which can lead to plaque in the arteries and inflammation and increase the risk of dementia.
It comes after researchers also found that eating just one bowl of frozen cereal a day could increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer by up to 25 percent.
More than six million Americans suffer from dementia, but the number is expected to more than double in the next twenty years.
Older Black adults are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed, which experts say is linked to the group having higher rates of heart disease.
Revealed: Science-based diet may reduce dementia risk
To reduce the number of dementia cases, American researchers have developed a diet that has been proven to protect brain health and reduce the risk of a memory-robbing disease.
For the study, published today in Neurology, scientists analyzed data from 3,300 adults who were an average of 75 years old and did not have dementia.
They all participated in the Chicago Health and Aging Project, which followed 10,000 people between 1993 and 2012.
They were surveyed every three years about how often they ate whole grains and were also asked to complete cognitive and memory tests.
This includes tasks such as memorizing a list of words, memorizing numbers and putting them back in the correct order.
The participants were then divided into five groups based on the number of whole grains consumed and their cognitive scores were compared.
This ranged from a group in which adults consumed less than half a serving (or half an ounce) of whole grains per day to those who consumed three servings or more.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends at least three servings a day of whole-grain foods, with one serving equaling one ounce—for example, a slice of bread or half a cup of cooked pasta or rice.
After controlling for factors such as age, sex, education and smoking, researchers found that those who ate three or more whole grains a day had slower cognitive decline than those who ate the least.
Cognitive decline is an early symptom of dementia.
They also found that black participants were more likely to eat more whole grains than white participants.
Of the black participants, 68 percent reported eating more than one serving of whole grains per day. In comparison, this figure dropped to 38 percent for white participants.
Researchers weren’t sure why eating whole grains reduced the risk of dementia, but said it could be related to how it helps regulate blood sugar levels or promotes a healthy gut.
This will help reduce the risk of inflammation and damage to blood vessels, which can increase the risk of developing dementia, they said.
People who eat whole grains are also more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as: B. sleeping or exercising more, which also help reduce the risk of dementia.
The study was observational and could not prove that eating popcorn alone reduced the risk of dementia.
It also did not take into account popcorn like butter and sugar, which can increase the risk of dementia by increasing the risk of obesity.
Limitations of the study include that the diets were self-reported and that participants were not required to provide evidence of which whole grains they consumed.
Dr. Xiaoran Liu, an epidemiologist who led the study, said: “With millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, finding ways to prevent the disease is a high public health priority.”
“It’s exciting to see that people may be able to reduce their risk of dementia by increasing their whole grain diet by a few servings a day.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
