It turns out that the food and drinks we consume also have a big impact on our health. And some of them may even contribute to dementia. When we say dementia, we think of an elderly person whose best years are behind them.
When we say dementia, we think of an elderly person whose best years are behind them. His body isn’t serving him, and his head’s a little behind. However, dementia is not always associated with old age, on the contrary. Recently, it has been on the rise even in significantly younger age groups. And why is this happening? Doctors have a surprising answer.
The research is clear, we indulge in these drinks on a regular basis
One of the most comprehensive studies on this topic was published in 2017. Its results can be read in the prestigious Stroke and Alzheimers & Dementia. Professor Sudha Seshadri, who was behind the whole project, identified the main culprit clearly. He is shooting for something that most of us indulge in every day without knowing the risks.
And what part of the diet did Professor Sudha Seshadri focus on? Well, it may surprise you, but it’s pretty ordinary sugar. All sugary sodas and drinks ended up in his sights. According to him, it’s these dietary components that increase the risk of dementia up to threefold. And in the same breath, he recommends we start getting used to plain water.
Why sugar? There’s more to it than that.
It has long been said that too much sugar is bad for our bodies. Some countries are even introducing an unpopular ‘sugar tax’ that makes all overly sweet drinks and snacks more expensive. This is no coincidence, as sugar contributes to a number of diseases of civilisation. We need it in reasonable quantities, of course, but excess leads to a multitude of negative effects. First and foremost, there is talk of diabetes and obesity.
Both of these diseases place a significant burden on our bodies and shorten our lifespan. However, the inflammatory factor that sugar is said to represent in the body is also at play. It makes us suffer from all kinds of infections, make it harder to cope with stress and so on. This is also how dementia is supposed to arise. So it may be better to limit sugary drinks as much as possible. Because Professor Sudh Seshadri’s research speaks volumes.
