High-Sugar vs. High-Fat Diets — One Has A Bigger Impact On Memory
Key takeaways
- Author: Ava Durgin June 21, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen.
- The assumption is that once those healthier habits return, our bodies simply move on.
- But a new study1 suggests the brain may not always forget those dietary habits quite so easily.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Ava Durgin June 21, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She holds a B.A. in Global Health and Psychology from Duke University.Image by Studio Firma / Stocksy June 21, 2026Most of us have a health chapter we'd rather not revisit. Maybe it was the college years fueled by late-night pizza and energy drinks. Maybe it was a particularly stressful season when takeout became its own food group and vegetables felt optional. Eventually, though, many of us find our way back. We start cooking more, exercising, paying attention to protein, and generally taking better care of ourselves.
The assumption is that once those healthier habits return, our bodies simply move on. And in many ways, they do.
But a new study1 suggests the brain may not always forget those dietary habits quite so easily. Researchers found that switching from a high-fat or high-sugar diet to a healthier one improved memory, but recovery wasn't always complete. And, memory appeared to rebound more readily after high-fat diets than after diets high in sugar.