Do you love a whole salami sandwich or sausage for breakfast? We understand, these cooked meats and cold cuts taste delicious, but you may just be considering cutting down on processed meats because a new study links these foods to mental health. is declining. Researchers at the University of Leeds recently found that eating 25gm of processed meat per day is associated with a 44 per cent increased risk of dementia. For the unchanged, depression is a condition in our brain activity that leads to forgetfulness, impaired thinking and communication. The study states that this health condition affects 5 percent to 8 percent of the world’s population aged 60 or older. The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
It was a large-scale study with nearly 50 lakh participants, ranging from 40 to 69. The researchers analyzed a database that contained in-depth genetic and health information of the participants. They also looked into the connection between different types of meat and their effect on our brain activity, especially depression.
According to their findings, while processed meat leads to an increased risk for depression, those that are not processed (pork, lamb et al) may be immune. “People who ate 50g per day were 19% less likely to develop depression,” the study finds.
However, according to lead researcher Huifeng Zhang, a PhD student from Leeds’School of Food and Nutrition Science, “Further testing is needed, but the management of the effects associated with conventional healthy eating guidelines suggests that lower levels of unorganized red meat may be beneficial to health.”
About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call itself. Be it food, people or places, she only knows what she wants. Simple aglio olio or daal-chawal pasta and a good film can make its day.