resulted in impaired memory function after a week of low carb meals

A controversial study led by a professor of Psychology at Tufts University in America claims that a low carbohydrate diet which eliminates foods such as bread, potatoes and pasta could have an effect on brain function and could be responsible for lower levels of memory function. Professor Taylor explained that the study which was carried out on women between the ages of 22 and 55 resulted in impaired memory function after a week of low carb meals. She said that when the women were then given carbohydrates their memories and cognitive function went back to normal levels.

Professor Taylor said that the brain required glucose to function normally and that this is often obtained from carbohydrates and therefore a lack of it was almost certainly responsible for the women getting lower scores in cognitive testing. The women were given special tests to evaluate short term and long term memories, attention spans spatial memory and visual attention. For most of the tests the low carb dieters scored lower marks however it was noted that they did slightly better on short term attention testing. The low carb dieters were also noted to have slower reaction times to answering the questions.

Professor Taylor admitted that only nineteen women had taken part in this test however the results showed a clear indication that the low carb diet was having an effect on cognitive function. This study will be controversial because there are millions of people who believe that low carb diets are the way forward to maintain a healthy weight and to prevent weight gain and they follow this way of eating with almost religious fervour.

At Ukmedix News we believe that diets should be comprehensive and balanced and that all diets should include carbohydrates, protein and fat in sensible and reasonable quantities. There is however a big advantage to cutting down on carbohydrates because they contain so much energy which if it is unused is stored in the body as fat.

Many men and women have been able to lose weight by reducing the amount of carbohydrates that they consume without having to make any other changes in their lifestyle and thus low carb diets are popular because of their simplicity.