In a recent study at the University of Warwick, researchers examined the effects of food on physical and mental health.
Their research shows a deep connection between food choices and brain health, showing that a nutritious, balanced diet is associated with improved brain health, cognitive function, and general well-being.
Using data-driven methods, the scientists divided 181,990 UK Biobank participants into four dietary categories: ‘no or low starch’, ‘vegetarian’, ‘high protein and low fibre’ and ‘balanced’.
These dietary methods are then examined with various physical assessments, cognitive function tests, blood biomarkers, brain imaging and genetic analysis, elucidating the complex relationship between nutrition and general health.
Researchers use machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, to analyze vast databases.
Professor Jianfeng Feng, a renowned author at the University of Warwick, said it is important to identify healthy foods at an early stage.
He said: “A healthy balanced diet from childhood is important for healthy development. To encourage the development of a healthy balanced diet, families and schools must offer a variety of nutritious foods and foster an environment that supports physical and mental health.”
“As the choice of food can be influenced by socio-economic status, it is important that this does not prevent people from adopting a healthy balanced diet profile,” he said.
“The implementation of accessible nutritious food policy is very important for the government to enable the general public to make informed and healthy dietary choices, thereby promoting overall health.”
Co-author Wei Cheng of Fudan University added: “Our findings highlight the link between diet and brain health, calling for concerted efforts to increase nutritional awareness and foster healthy eating habits among diverse populations.”
Dr Richard Pemberton, a certified lifestyle doctor and GP at Hexagon Health, who was not involved in the study, said: “This exciting research shows that a poor diet is not only detrimental to our physical health, but also to our mental and brain health.
This study supports the urgent need for government action to improve the health of our children while protecting future generations.