well, you may want to skip the doughnuts. A new study from Oregon State University found

that high-fat and high-sugar diets may cause a loss of cognitive flexibility because the

two diets affect bacteria in the gut, called the microbiome. In the study, mice were fed

either a high-sugar or a high-fat diet for four weeks. After the four weeks the mental

performance of the mice dropped. The high-sugar diet had the most serious effects. The mice

on this diet had changes in both cognitive flexibility, long-term and short-term memory.

The lead study author said that "It’s increasingly clear that our gut bacteria can communicate

with the human brain." Bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters, stimulate

sensory nerves or the immune system, and affect a wide range of biological functions." Speak

to your doctor about starting a healthy diet plan today.