By Nutrition Coach Ben Chee, Ed.D.

Picture this: a group of scientists, probably wearing lab coats that haven't seen a washing machine
since the last solar eclipse, discover that your daily dose of fiber is not just a ticket to the porcelain
throne but also a VIP pass to Brainpower Central. That's right, folks, popping a fiber supplement is the
secret handshake into the smarty-pants club for the 60-plus crowd.
Here’s the skinny: They rounded up 36 pairs of twins—because why study one when you can get a
two-for-one deal?—all old enough to have serious opinions about the weather. Each twin got either a
placebo (aka the "Nah, just kidding" pill) or a 7.5-gram fiber bomb. On top of this, they had to pump
some iron and chug down protein shakes like they were back in their frat days, all in the name of
science.
Fast forward 12 weeks, and voilà, the fiber-fueled folks had more good gut bugs than a yogurt
commercial, and their brains were firing on all cylinders. Tests showed they were sharper than a tack,
with the kind of memory and reaction time that would make their grandkids jealous.
So, how does this work? Imagine your gut and brain are on a never-ending Zoom call, passing notes
back and forth. If your gut is all messed up, the notes are gibberish, leading to brain fog. But keep that
gut happy, and it's like your brain's got its cheerleading squad.
The takeaway? Eating like your grandma with all that fiber might make you the wisest owl in the nest,
preventing your brain from turning into a mushy pea. The study's bottom line is that finding out your
favorite party trick could make you smarter—not just the life of the party.
So, if you want to join the ranks of brainy elders, consider turning your nose up at those "too cool for
school" fad diets and cozy up to a big, hearty bowl of...fiber. Being full of it is the smartest thing you
can be. Remember, folks, it's not just about keeping the wheels turning; it's about fueling the whole
car—or, in this case, your gut—to keep that brain engine purring. Cheers to Fiber, the unsung hero of
the senior set!
Reference
n-older-adults-study/
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