Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and Wake Forest University (USA) claim that incorporating beef, chicken, or pork into the Mediterranean diet can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Typically, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes a high intake of fish, nuts, berries, whole grains, and other healthy foods. However, a new study has revealed that it can be healthily diversified with various types of meat, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The foods included in the Mediterranean diet are staples for residents of Greece, Spain, and other southern European countries. In recent years, scientists have observed that people living in this part of the world are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Researchers have determined that this is largely due to the diet they consume, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil, which are considered excellent preventive measures for brain diseases.
What Researchers Discovered
Now, in a new study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, scientists have found that combining the renowned Mediterranean diet with a keto diet can be quite beneficial.
In recent years, the keto diet has gained significant popularity. It disregards most carbohydrates and favors fats as the primary energy source, prompting the body to burn its own fat for fuel.
Foods included in the keto diet consist of nuts, seeds, fatty fish (such as mackerel and herring), eggs, poultry, beef, pork, sour cream, cheese, butter, yogurt (and other dairy products), olive oil (and other oils), non-starchy vegetables (like tomatoes, broccoli, leafy greens), mushrooms, avocados, and a small amount of berries.
The keto diet excludes bread, pasta, grains, starchy vegetables (like potatoes, corn, and squash), legumes, fruits, and sugar.
The researchers involved 20 volunteers in the study. Eleven of them were cognitively normal, while nine showed signs of mild cognitive impairment.
Each participant was tasked with alternating between different diets with varying fat and carbohydrate contents. Among these diets was the combined keto-Mediterranean diet.
Volunteers adhered to one diet for six weeks, followed by a six-week break before switching to another diet for six weeks.
After each six-week period, the scientists analyzed biological samples from each participant. They looked for signs of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the microbes responsible for its production. High levels of GABA in the body are believed to contribute to increased brain strain and cognitive decline, as well as accelerate aging.
The researchers found that after participants followed the combined keto-Mediterranean diet, they exhibited the lowest levels of GABA and associated microbes. This indicates that such a diet was beneficial for brain health.
As noted by Dr. Susanna Kraft, who participated in the study, understanding the complex relationship between this diet and cognitive health will aid in developing new prevention and treatment methods for Alzheimer’s disease.