Eat lean

You already know that a high-fat diet is bad for your heart and deleterious to your waistline. Now researchers at the University of Toronto report that Ho-Ho's, milkshakes and French fries could be bad for your brain as well. Their findings suggest that a diet consisting of 40 percent fat can dramatically reduce brain function, including memory and task-learning.

Preliminary evidence suggests that clogged arteries, which reduce the flow of blood to the brain, are at the root of the problem. Insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition in which the body no longer responds to insulin--the hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels--has also been implicated. Insulin resistance impedes the conversion of glucose into energy. This theory supports other studies that have determined diabetics are more at risk for suffering a decline in certain cognitive functions, including memory and retention. So stay sharp, and eat lean.

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