Popular low-carbohydrate diets may slim your waistline but they can also shrink your brain and have an immediate impact on your memory and your ability to think according to new research.The by Tufts University scientists study compared low-carbohydrate diets with balanced diets.
The researchers found that within a week, the subjects on the low-carb diet performed worse in visual attention, attention span, spatial memory and long-term memory,.
The researchers believe that low-carbohydrate diets reduce the amount of glucose, or blood sugar, which is carried to the brain and used by nerve cells for energy. A low-carbohydrate diet means less fuel to power the brain cells.
Dr Holly Taylor, who led the research, said: "The study demonstrates that the food you eat can have an immediate impact on cognitive behavior and that the popular low-carb and no-carb diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition."