If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, you could be doing your genes a disservice. Diets high in sugar can alter the genes for your memory. Here are the different ways sugar alters your memory.
Unintended Gene Alteration
Glucose powers the body. This form of sugar is the primary source of energy for your body. Your brain needs a certain level of sugar to function. Things like learning, memory, thinking, and learning are linked to your glucose levels. Bad things happen when your glucose levels are too low. However, bad things also happen when it’s too high.
A study links high-fat high-sugar consumption with reduced function in the hippocampus, in the part related to memory. If you have long-term diabetes and have a high-sugar diet, your brain will start to deteriorate. Both Type 1 and Type 2 will affect the brain’s ability to do its job. It can also cause it to shrink. Reduced blood cells will restrict blood flow to the brain making it difficult to perform cognitive activities.
Researchers found, in a separate study, that eating a lot of sugar in your diet can change the way the bacteria in your gut communicates with your brain. This change in communication affects early learning for both short-term and long-term memory.
Abnormally high sugar levels can put you at risk for dementia as well. This is for people who have high blood sugar, but not in the diabetic range. Researchers are unsure what the connection is between high sugar and dementia, but there is one.
If you have been over-indulging in sugar treats, don’t despair. Experts believe that it can turn around by consuming foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Final Thoughts
Many people only eat sugar in moderation, and there is no danger in that. If you are prone to reaching for sweets often, however, you could be altering yourself to the point that your memory functions suffer. Sugar alters your memory, so if you find yourself reaching for sweets too much do yourself a favor and balance it with omega-3 fatty acids.
