On World Brain Health Day, neurologist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı emphasized the direct connection between brain health and mental, physical, and social well-being, saying, "We need to take care of our brains 365 days a year, not just on Brain Health Day." Tarlacı emphasized the importance of regular exercise, mental activity, and strong social relationships, along with a healthy and balanced diet, and emphasized the significant impact of positive thinking, gratitude, and stress management on brain health.

Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı made statements about the importance of brain health on the occasion of World Brain Health Day.

Brain Health is the sum of mental, physical and social well-being…

Neurologist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı stated that the medical health of our entire body is important, but the health of our brain, our executive center, goes beyond this, and added that just as we take good care of our skin, we should also take good care of the health of our inner brain.

Tarlacı emphasized the need to first discuss what health is, saying, "Being healthy means a person's state of mental, physical, and social well-being. From this perspective, good brain health actually means being mentally, physically, and socially well. When these three factors come together, we can say that a person is healthy. The same applies to the brain."

Nutrition Means Feeding the Brain!

Explaining how we can take good care of our brains physically, Tarlacı said, “First of all, when we eat, we shouldn't just think of nourishing our bodies. Eating means nourishing our brains. Because our brains use almost one-fifth of what we consume. The Aegean and Mediterranean diets, in particular, are the most ideal for brain and cardiovascular health. They consist primarily of green vegetables, herbs, fruits, and seafood. One of the most important things for brain health is a healthy diet. While eating healthy, avoiding harming the body and minimizing, cutting down, or eliminating alcohol and other addictive substances is another aspect of this process.”

Life must be viewed positively and gratefully!

Professor Dr. Sultan Tarlacı emphasized that another important component of brain health is mental well-being, saying, “Many parameters contribute to mental well-being. Many factors, such as family relationships, the economic status of society, and a good sleep routine, all play a role. However, we need to approach life with a more positive, happier, and more grateful outlook, and see the positive aspects. Of course, negative things have a greater impact, but we must increase our awareness. We must understand that all life's difficulties will and must pass, and that patience is essential. We need to raise our awareness by being grateful for the things the outside world nourishes us with, such as breathing, walking, moving independently, smelling the air, and seeing.”

Tarlacı stated that when we think this way, we can become more resilient in the face of life's deep troubles, and added that we need to somehow accustom ourselves to seeing the glass not half empty, but half full if there is even a drop of water at the bottom.

It is necessary to keep social interactions strong and vibrant!

Tarlacı emphasized that humans are not creatures that can exist alone, saying, “Even as children learn to speak, we need the presence and conversation of others. Even though we have an innate ability to speak, if we don't have another person in our lives, we can never learn to speak, and we can't speak. We need others. Others can sometimes cause problems in life. Other people's presence can irritate us, but humans are social creatures, and we gain meaning through the presence of others. We derive our meaning or understand who we are by seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. For brain health, it's especially important to increase social relationships and spend time with others. This chain can be expanded to include family and relatives, and then friends. The important point here is that loneliness is not good for people, it's not good for the brain at all. It causes the brain to age quickly, shrink, and wither. Therefore, it's crucial to keep our social interactions as strong and vibrant as possible, and to experience all the colors of life.”

Awareness Should Be Raised for Brain Health!

Tarlacı emphasized the need to pay attention to our brains 365 days a year, not just on Brain Health Day. "You need to raise awareness of your brain health," he said. "The brain is our most valuable organ, our manager, the one that governs you throughout your life, helps you make decisions, evaluates your emotions, solves problems, and helps you cope with life's challenges emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally. Therefore, listen to your brain, pay attention to it, and take care of your brain health, not just one day, but throughout the year, even throughout your life."

A Healthy and Balanced Diet Also Protects Brain Health!

Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı also shared suggestions to help protect brain health and concluded his remarks as follows:

"Establish a healthy and balanced diet. Choose foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants. Adopt a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Eliminate trans fat and saturated fat intake, and avoid fast food and processed foods. Exercise regularly. Choose exercises that support brain health, such as walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling. Don't forget mental activities like solving puzzles, reading, listening to music, and learning new things. Try to avoid stress. Taking up new hobbies, participating in social activities, spending time in nature, meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can help manage your stress. Pay attention to your sleep patterns and take measures to ensure quality sleep. Have regular health checkups. If you are taking any medications, stick to your prescription and your doctor's recommendations. Don't forget to take safety precautions against brain injuries."

Source: HORECA TREND and Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital 

Emphasizing that ice is also a food and can contain harmful microorganisms, Nutrition and Diet Expert Hülya Yiğit said, “If the water used when freezing ice is not clean, if the ice is touched with bare hands when being placed in glasses, and if the ice is not stored under appropriate conditions, it can also become a living space for harmful microbes.” Drawing attention to the fact that ice should not be thawed and refrozen and that clean water should be used for ice making, Yiğit reminded that food poisoning can occur a few hours or a few days after the consumption of spoiled food.

Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital Nutrition and Diet Specialist Hülya Yiğit gave information about food poisoning that may occur due to ice, especially put in drinks and not stored under appropriate conditions during the summer months.

“Ice is also a food and can harbor harmful microorganisms”

Reminding that food poisoning has become more common with the increase in summer temperatures, Nutrition and Diet Expert Hülya Yiğit said, “However, recently, with the increase in cold drink consumption, we have been encountering ice poisoning as well as food poisoning. Ice is also a food and can contain harmful microorganisms.”

Noting that tap water is generally used when freezing ice, Yiğit explained, “If the water used when freezing ice is not clean, if the ice is touched with bare hands when being placed in glasses, if the hands of the person touching the ice are not clean and if the ice is not stored under appropriate conditions, it can become a living space for harmful microbes.”

Ice Must Be Stored According to Hygienic Conditions! 

Emphasizing that when using ice, it is necessary to make sure that it is not thawed and refrozen and that it is made from clean water, Nutrition and Diet Expert Hulya Yigit“Businesses should be careful to clean the machines they use to make ice. At home, carbonated water can be used to clean ice cube trays to prevent odor,” he said.

Stating that food poisoning can occur a few hours or a few days after consuming spoiled food, Yiğit concluded his words as follows:

“Food poisoning often presents symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In food poisoning, it is important to replace the fluid lost by the body and to have a low-fat diet. It should not be forgotten that ice is also a food, and that it should be stored in accordance with hygienic conditions and that care should be taken when offering it to the consumer.” doi number: https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.62240

Source: HORECA TREND and Uskudar University NPISTANBUL Hospital

The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy, examined the effects of pasta consumption on emotional well-being. The study, supported by the food leader Barilla Group, was led by Clinical Psychologist Prof. Francesco Pagnini, who has previously conducted academic studies with Harvard University. The research team led by Pagnini published the study titled “Pasta, What an emotion! A mixed-method study on the relationship between pasta consumption and happiness.”

According to the research, pasta provides a significant increase in individuals' happiness levels, especially when consumed in social settings. Participants most often associated the experience of eating pasta with concepts such as being with family, positive emotions, taste and comfort.

Of the 1.532 people who participated in the study, 41 percent said they associated pasta with family, 21 percent with positive emotions, 10 percent with the pleasure of taste, and 7 percent with a sense of relaxation. Prof.Francesco Pagnini “We observed that just eating pasta together can create lasting emotional bonds between people and provide a unique comfort. None of the other carbohydrate-based foods such as rice, bread, or pizza can provide the happiness boost that pasta creates in social environments. The data shows that pasta consumption, when combined with social interaction, significantly increases happiness levels,” he said.

The study showed similar results to a study conducted last year by the University of Minnesota, with the support of Barilla, that examined the effects of eating together on mental health. Both studies pointed out that eating is an important element not only in terms of physical but also social and emotional well-being. The results of the studies were published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition and presented to the scientific world.

Valeria Rapetti, Barilla Group Global R&D Nutrition and Wellness Director “The published study scientifically demonstrates the power of pasta to bring people together. Pasta consumption is not only a physical nutritional activity, but also stands out as an important supporter of emotional well-being. These scientifically proven findings once again show how valuable pasta, one of the cornerstones of the Mediterranean nutritional culture, is for a healthy and happy life. As Barilla, we aim to offer tables that support good living, not just products,” he explained.

Fullness, Happiness and Contentment All Together

44% of participants stated that they consume pasta 2-3 times a week, and 23,9% stated that they consume pasta every day. Parallel to the frequency of consumption, pasta was most associated with feelings of satiety (34%), satisfaction (29%) and happiness (10%).

Also among the emotional associations highlighted in the research:
– “Being with family” with 41%,
– “Positive emotions” with 21%,
– “Taste pleasure” with 10%,
– “Relaxation and comfort” took the place with 7%.

Reduces Stress

The positive associations with pasta were not limited to the participants' statements; they were also supported by scientific data. The research revealed that stress levels decreased significantly, quality of life increased, and awareness levels increased in individuals who consumed pasta.

Meals Eaten Alone Make You Unhappy

In the second phase of the study, which shows that pasta is not only a momentary pleasure but also a sustainable psychological well-being, 83 participants recorded their daily moods via a mobile application for two weeks. The findings revealed that there was a significant increase in happiness after consuming pasta. It was observed that this effect became much more pronounced especially in meals eaten with family or friends. In contrast, the increase in happiness in meals eaten alone did not reach a statistically significant level.

Source: HORECA TREND and Barilla