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                   Had any "senior moments" lately? The odds are that as you 
                    get older, you'll lose some of your short-term memory. Good 
                    nutrition 
                    is known to affect memory; studies have shown that eating 
                    carbohydrates can improve recollection. A recent study in 
                    the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition evaluated 
                    whether eating protein and fat similarly affect cognitive 
                    performance.  
                                    
 
Twenty-two elderly men and women, ages 61-79, completed three 
                    verbal memory tests following the consumption of one of four 
                    drinks, containing either no nutrients or carbohydrates, fat, 
                    or protein only. Each person was tested after consumption 
                    of each of the four drinks on four separate days (one drink 
                    per day). The verbal memory tests involved word/paragraph 
                    recall immediately after ingestion or one hour later.  
                   All three nutrient drinks improved delayed and immediate 
                    memory on one test, with the most significant improvements 
                    an hour after consumption. Only protein reduced forgetfulness 
                    on a separate test immediately after ingestion. The no-calorie 
                    drink had no effect on cognitive performance, adding proof 
                    that the nutrients, not the liquid, offered the benefits. 
                   
                  Try to eat small, regular meals for constant energy and a 
                    good memory. The foods you eat may provide your brain with 
                    the boost it needs to function at its best. Also, to avoid 
                    long-term memory problems, be sure to eat a balanced diet 
                    and take a daily multivitamin supplement.  
                  Reference: 
                  Kaplan RJ, Greenwood CE, Winocur G, et al. Dietary protein, 
                    carbohydrate, and fat enhance memory performance in the healthy 
                    elderly. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2001:74, 
                    pp. 687-693. 
                  To read more studies on good nutrition, check out https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition. 
                   
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