A US brain researcher has revealed the everyday item he avoids in a bid to protect himself from Alzheimer’s disease.
And for millions, it’s something they reach for in the fridge and drink daily without thinking twice.
In a video shared with his 141,000 Instagram followers, Dr Austin Perlmutter delivered a stark warning about sweetened drinks and their long-term impact on brain health.
‘This is the number one food that I avoid as a brain researcher and physician to protect my brain against Alzheimer’s disease,’ he started, before going on to explain why what we consume plays a far bigger role in cognitive health than many realise.
‘Food is a major influence on brain health, and research consistently links quality of diet with risk for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,’ he said.
He then pointed to recent large-scale research which looked specifically at the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and risks for Alzheimer’s.
He said the findings were confronting, revealing that people who drank the most sugar-sweetened beverages had an almost 50 per cent higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
‘Sugar-sweetened beverages provide absolutely nothing of value for most people,’ he said.
US brain researcher Dr Austin Perlmutter (pictured), has revealed the one everyday item he avoids entirely in a bid to protect himself from Alzheimer’sdisease
‘Yet they provide a whole lot of sugar, and that is linked to metabolic dysfunction and risk for inflammation, both of which are pathways that can predispose us to a higher risk for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.’
Many people swap sugary soft drinks for diet versions, believing they are a healthier alternative – but Dr Perlmutter warned this may not protect the brain either.
‘In that exact same study, they found people drinking more artificially sweetened beverages had about a 40 per cent higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s,’ he said.
The revelation sparked a flurry of reactions from followers, with one writing that the government should intervene and reduce the availability to consumers.
‘The big issue is that artificial sweeteners are almost impossible to avoid in the supermarket!’ another said.
‘Sugar feeds all the worst [things] we don’t want to happen in our bodies,’ a third noted.
He delivered a stark warning about sweetened drinks and their long-term impact on brain health, with research revealing that people who drank the most sugar-sweetened beverages had an almost 50 per cent higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease
‘Sugar equals insulin resistance, equals diabetes, equals Alzheimer’s,’ a fourth agreed.
Rather than reaching for sweetened drinks, Dr Perlmutter says he makes a conscious effort to retrain his palate, prioritising minimally sweetened or unsweetened beverages as much as possible.
‘I know that can be challenging, but the general idea is if you can start training your taste buds not to persistently require all that sugar and sweetness, [it’s] probably a good thing for you overall, and your brain health.’
This news comes echoes that of world-renowned longevity researcher Dan Buettner who delivered another warning recently over what foods to ditch in order to live longer.
The 64-year-old National Geographic Fellow and best-selling author, who has spent decades travelling to the world’s longest-living communities, says the secret to reaching 100 is not found in expensive supplements or workouts, but in what you eat.
This news comes echoes that of world-renowned longevity researcher Dan Buettner (pictured) who delivered another warning recently over what foods to ditch in order to live longer – including sugary drinks, processed meats, salty snacks and packages sweets
At the top of his blacklist are processed meats such as bacon, sausages and deli meats, after years of research have linked them to higher rates of colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The second item was sugar-laden drinks, which he describes as one of the most damaging staples of the modern diet.
‘Soda pops [are] the number one source of refined sugar,’ he added.
According to Dan, these drinks deliver a rapid spike in blood sugar without any nutritional benefit, contributing to obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, which are all enemies of longevity.
Salty snacks and packaged sweets were also discussed as no-go’s, however some in moderation is okay.
‘If you want to go out and enjoy them once in a while, fine. But keep them out of your house,’ he said.
