EFN

It is believed that that if you reduce your calorie intake by 30%, your memory may improve. There have been experiments done on rats to study whether or not a diet low in calories and high in unsaturated fatty acids cause the memory to improve.

The volunteers in this study were the average age of 60 and divided into three different groups. The first group’s diet and calorie intake was not modified. The second group was similar to the first but higher amounts of unsaturated fatty acids found in olive oil and fish. The last group’s diet was restricted. The groups were again looked at after three months. There was no change in memory in the first two groups but those in the third group performed better.

It is possible that the drop in insulin levels is the reason for the mental improvement. This hormone was known to act on the memory parts of the brain. The lower insulin levers may be increasing the sensitivity of the receptors in the brain. This would improve the signaling of the insulin and improving the memory.

Those participating in the study were followed by dietitians but they monitored their own eating for the entire three months. The tests given involved memorizing words. The third group with the lower calorie diet showed on average a 20 percent improvement in their memory and the other groups showed no change.