Nutritional Psychology

  Western Diet Impairs Memory in Rats Can It Do So in Humans? Summary:  A study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity investigated how early-life exposure to a Western-style diet affects memory and brain function. The research, conducted by Hayes et al. (2024), focused on the long-term cognitive consequences of consuming highly processed, high-fat, high-sugar foods during development. Study design Male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to either a Western-style “ junk food ” diet (20% protein, 35% carbohydrates, 45% fat) or a healthy control diet starting on postnatal day 26. Western-diet exposure lasted 30–60 days , after which all rats were transitioned to a healthy diet. Food intake, behavior, memory performance, metabolic outcomes, brain neurochemistry, and gut microbiome composition were assessed. Key findings Increased caloric intake: Rats fed the Western diet consumed 15% more calories than controls. Selective memory impairment: Western diet–expose...

 When Our Eating Experience Falls Short, Do We Eat More to Compensate? Summary A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition shows that when people expect to enjoy a pleasurable experience—such as eating a meal—but feel less enjoyment than anticipated because they were distracted, they tend to compensate by consuming more. This compensation often appears as increased snacking or engaging more frequently in other hedonic activities. Hedonic Consumption and Overconsumption Hedonic consumption refers to engaging in activities for sensory pleasure, fun, or enjoyment. While this is a normal and essential part of psychological well-being, it can sometimes lead to hedonic overconsumption , meaning excessive engagement in pleasurable activities (e.g., overeating, gaming, or staying up late), which can negatively affect health and daily functioning. Traditional explanations point to low self-control as the m...

  Women who eat healthier and reduce sugar intake tend to age more slowly A study published in JAMA Network Open examined how diet—specifically added sugar intake and overall dietary quality—relates to biological aging in women. Using data from 342 midlife women (ages 36–43) participating in a long-term health study, researchers analyzed food intake and DNA methylation patterns to estimate epigenetic age , a measure of how quickly the body is aging at the cellular level. Healthier Eating Linked to Slower Aging Women who followed healthier dietary patterns had lower epigenetic age compared to their chronological age, meaning their cells appeared to age more slowly. The strongest link was seen with the Alternate Mediterranean Diet , which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and healthy fats. Other dietary indices showed similar—but slightly weaker—trends in the expected direction. Added Sugar Intake Linked to Slightly Faster Aging Participants wh...