Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 8: Your occasional indulgence in a high-fat meal may be doing more harm than you think. A new study has found that even a single milkshake loaded with fat can impair blood flow to the brain and increase the risk of stroke and dementia. The findings were published in The Journal of Nutritional Physiology.

Researchers examined how saturated fat affects blood vessels supplying the brain. To test this, two groups of men 20 aged between 18 and 35, and 21 aged between 60 and 80 — were given a milkshake consisting mainly of heavy whipping cream, containing 1,362 calories and 130 grams of fat.

Dubbed a “brain bomb”, the drink mimicked the fat content of a fast-food takeaway. Four hours after consumption, tests revealed that the ability of blood vessels linked to heart and brain health to open was significantly reduced. This impairment decreased the brain’s capacity to buffer changes in blood flow, with older adults showing about 10 per cent greater vulnerability.

“Even one fatty meal has an immediate effect on the body,” the researchers said, adding that occasional indulgence is not entirely harmless.

While dietary fat is essential for energy, growth, and physiological functions, the study highlights that high levels of saturated fat can impact both the heart and brain. “Our study stresses the importance of consuming a diet low in saturated fat to protect heart and brain health, particularly in older adults who are already at increased risk of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases,” the researchers noted.