Diving into that pint of ice cream on your cheat day may make your memory a little fuzzy. New research from Australia found that subjects who ate a high-fat, high-sugar diet performed more poorly on learning and memory tests, even among otherwise healthy, lean young people. Researchers say these diets impact the brain’s hippocampus, the region responsible for the ability to sense hunger and satiety cues, as well as memory. That may not only make it harder to regulate food intake, it can also put you at a greater risk of cognitive impairment. Although the occasional treat shouldn’t have too much of an impact, a well-rounded Mediterranean diet can help keep your body at its best.

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