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There are several things that a person does within the first years of life that can have a lasting impact on their brain health as they age, including eating a healthy diet.
A new study suggests that consuming unhealthy foods during childhood can affect how the brain regulates eating in the long term.
Researchers found that interventions targeting the gut microbiome might reverse these negative effects in a mouse model.
Previous research shows there are several things that a person does within the first years of life that can have a lasting impact on their brain health as they age, such as cognitive engagement, avoiding head injuries, developing healthy sleeping habits, being physically active, and eating a healthy diet.
Now, a new study published in the journal Nature CommunicationsTrusted Source adds to what we know about the link between early healthy eating and lifelong brain health, suggesting that consuming unhealthy foods during childhood can affect how the brain regulates eating in the long term.
However, researchers found that interventions targeting the gut microbiome might be able to reverse these negative effects, via a mouse model.
“Children today are growing up in food environments where high-fat, high-sugar options are everywhere, at parties, at sports events, and as rewards,” Harriët Schellekens, PhD, BSc, MSc, senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience at University College Cork in Ireland, principal investigator with Food for Health Ireland (FHI), group leader with APC Microbiome Ireland and lead principal investigator of this study, told Medical News Today.
“As both a scientist and a parent, I started asking: what are the long-term effects of growing up in that kind of environment?” she said.
“We now know that brain health is influenced by diet and lifestyle from very early in life. Nutrition, movement, sleep, and even the gut microbiota interact with brain circuits that regulate mood, appetite, and cognition. By understanding these pathways, we can identify realistic, preventative strategies that support brain health long before problems emerge,” she explained.
Using a mouse model, researchers found that consuming a high-fat, high-sugar diet early in life may cause enduring changes in how the brain controls eating, even after the unhealthy diet is discontinued.
These changes were linked to the hypothalamus, which plays an important role in satiety and helps control appetite.
“(This) suggests early diet may do more than just influence body weight in the short term — it may shape how the brain’s appetite systems develop,” Schellekens explained. “In our model, we saw that even after the unhealthy diet was stopped, there were persistent changes in food preference and in the brain pathways that regulate eating behavior.”
Additionally, Schellekens and her team discovered that interventions using gut microbiota, including the gut bacteria Bifidobacterium longum, might help prevent the negative impact of unhealthy eating on brain health as we age.
“The significance (of this finding) is that it suggests the gut microbiota may be part of the mechanism linking early diet to long-term changes in eating behavior,” Schellekens said.
“In our study, [w]e targeted the microbiota, including using prebiotics or a specific strain of Bifidobacterium longum APC1472, which we previously had shown to have metabolic benefits. We were able to reduce some of the long-term effects we observed,” she continued.
MNT spoke with Dung Trinh, MD, internist for the MemorialCare Medical Group and chief medical officer of the Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, CA, who commented that his first reaction is that this is a useful reminder that early eating patterns can leave a long “biological imprint” that isn’t always obvious on the surface.
“In this study, even after the animals returned to a healthier diet and their weight normalized, their eating behaviors and the brain circuits involved in regulating food intake still showed lasting changes,” Trinh continued. “The other thing that stood out is the message of plasticity. The researchers weren’t just describing harm — they tested microbiome-targeted approaches and saw partial normalization of those behaviors.”Trinh said it’s important for researchers to continue finding new ways for people to improve their brain health through healthy lifestyle choices, because brain health isn’t determined by a single factor.
“It’s the cumulative effect of years of sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress, social connection, and cardiometabolic health,” he explained. “Lifestyle is also where we have the most scalable opportunity: even modest improvements can reduce risk across multiple systems at once.”
“Research like this helps in two ways,” Trinh continued. “It strengthens the ‘why’ behind lifestyle advice by uncovering mechanisms — here, a gut–brain pathway that may influence appetite regulation. (And) it helps us move from generic advice ‘eat better’ to more personalized, practical strategies — who benefits most, when interventions matter most, and which changes are likely to stick.”
High blood pressure affects nearly halfTrusted Source of American adults and 1.28 billion people worldwideTrusted Source. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure raises your risk of heart disease and stroke.
However, there are a number of things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally, even without medication.
Here are 15 natural ways to treat high blood pressure.
Exerciseis one of the best things you can do to lower high blood pressure.
Regular exercise helps make your heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood, which lowers the pressure in your arteries.
In fact, getting 150 minutes per weekTrusted Source of moderate exercise, such as walking, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, such as running, can help lower blood pressure and improve heart health.
Bottom line
Walking for just 30 minutes a day can help lower your blood pressure. Getting more exercise helps reduce it even further.
Salt intake is high around the world. This is largely due to increased consumption of processed and prepared foods. Many studies have linked high salt intake with high blood pressure and heart events, including stroke.
If a person already has high blood pressure, it’s worth cutting back your sodium intake to see whether it makes a difference. Swap processed foods such as canned vegetables for fresh ingredients and try seasoning with herbs and spices rather than salt.
Bottom line
Most guidelines for lowering blood pressure recommend reducing sodium intake. However, that recommendation might make the most sense for people who are sensitive to the effects of salt.
Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressureTrusted Source and increase the risk of several chronic health conditions.
While some research has suggested that low to moderate amounts of alcohol consumption may protect the heart, those benefits may be offset by negative effects.
In the United States, moderate alcohol consumptionTrusted Source is defined as no more than one drink per day for females and two drinks per day for males. If you drink more than that, it might be best to consider reducing your intake.
Bottom line
Drinking any amount of alcohol may raise your blood pressure. Therefore, it’s best to moderate your intake.
Potassium is an important mineral that helps your body get rid of sodium and eases pressureTrusted Source on your blood vessels. Modern diets have increased most people’s sodium intake while decreasing potassium intake.
To get a better balance of potassium and sodium in your diet, focus on eating fewer processed foods and more fresh, whole foods.
Foods that are particularly high in potassium include:
vegetables, especially leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes
fruit, including melons, bananas, avocados, oranges, and apricots
dairy, such as milk and yogurt
tuna and salmon
nuts and seeds
beans
Bottom line
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in potassium, can help lower blood pressure.
A person may want to discuss a potassium-rich diet with their doctor prior to starting. There are some blood pressure medicines that inherently increase the potassium in the body. If you pair these with a high-potassium diet, then the level may get too high, which can be dangerous.
If you’ve ever downed a cup of coffee before you’ve had your blood pressure taken, you’ll know that caffeine causes an instant blood pressure boost. However, there’s not much evidence to suggest that drinking caffeine regularly can cause a lasting increase.
In fact, people who drink caffeinated coffee or tea tend to have a lower riskTrusted Source of heart disease, including high blood pressure, than those who do not drink it.
Still, if you suspect you’re sensitive to the effects of caffeine, consider cutting back to see whether it lowers your blood pressure.
Bottom line
Caffeine can cause a short-term spike in blood pressure. However, for many people, it does not cause a lasting increase.
When you’re chronically stressed, your body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode. On a physical level, that means a fasterTrusted Source heart rate and constricted blood vessels.
When you experience stress, you might also be more likely to engage in habits that can have negative effects on blood pressure, such as drinking alcohol and eating processed foods.
Bottom line
Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Finding ways to manage stress can help.
In people who are overweight, losing weight can make a big difference to heart health. Studies show that in people with obesity losing just 5% of their body weight had significant benefits for blood pressure
The effect can be even greater when weight loss is paired with other lifestyle changes, such as exercise.
Losing weight can help your blood vessels do a better job of expanding and contracting, making it easier for the left ventricle of your heart to pump blood.
Bottom line
Losing weight can significantly lower high blood pressure. This effect is even more pronounced when you exercise.
Among the many reasons to quit smoking is that the habit is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
Every puff of cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels.
However, studies haven’t foundTrusted Source a conclusive link between smoking and high blood pressure. This could be because people who smoke regularly develop a tolerance over time.
Still, since both smoking and high blood pressure raise the risk of heart disease, quitting smoking can help lessen that risk.
Bottom line
Though there’s conflicting research about smoking and high blood pressure, both increase the risk of heart disease.
There’s a growing body of research showing a link between added sugar intake and high blood pressure.
A 2020 research review found that increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to higher blood pressure levels in children and adolescents.
And it’s not just sugar — all refined carbs, such as the kind found in white flour, convert rapidly to sugar in your bloodstream and could cause problems.
Some studies have shown that low carb diets may also help reduce blood pressure.
In fact, one review of 12 studies showed that following a low carb diet could reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with several other risk factors for heart disease.
Bottom line
Consuming refined carbs, especially sugar, may raise blood pressure. Some studies have shown that low carb diets may help lower your blood pressure levels.
While these two behaviors could also fall under “stress reduction techniques,” meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.
Both meditation and deep breathing may activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
Studies show that different styles of meditation appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure.
Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective.
The authors of a 2021 review concluded that practicing diaphragmatic breathing, a deep breathing technique, twice daily for 4 weeks could lead to a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Bottom line
Both meditation and deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure.
People with low calcium intake often have high blood pressure.
While calcium supplements haven’t been conclusively shownTrusted Source to lower blood pressure, calcium-rich diets do seem to be linked to healthy blood pressure levels.
For most adults, the calcium recommendation is 1,000 milligrams (mg) per dayTrusted Source. However, some people, including older adults, may need more.
In addition to dairy, you can get calcium from collard greens and other leafy greens, beans, sardines, and tofu. Here is a list of calcium-rich plant-based foods.
Bottom line
Calcium-rich diets are linked to healthy blood pressure levels. You can get calcium by eating dark leafy greens, tofu, and dairy products.
Some natural supplements may also help lower blood pressure. Here are some of the main supplements that have evidence behind them:
Aged garlic extract: Researchers have used aged garlic extract successfully as a stand-alone treatment and along with conventional therapies for lowering blood pressure.
Berberine: Though more research is needed, some studies have found that berberine could potentially help lower blood pressure levels.
Fish oil: Long credited with improving heart health, fish oil may benefitTrusted Source people with high blood pressure.
Bottom line
Researchers have investigated several natural supplements for their ability to lower blood pressure.
Magnesium is an important mineral that helps blood vessels relax.
While magnesium deficiency is pretty rare, many people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet.
Some studies have suggested that getting too little magnesium is linked with high blood pressure, but evidence from clinical studies has been less clear.
Still, you can ensure that you’re meeting your needs by enjoying a variety of magnesium-rich foodsTrusted Source, such as vegetables, dairy products, legumes, chicken, beef, and whole grains.
Bottom line
Magnesium is an essential mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. It can be found in a wide range of whole foods, including legumes and whole grains.
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about lowering high blood pressure.
What will bring blood pressure down quickly?
Long-term lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake and managing stress, are the best way to bring blood pressure down. An immediate wayTrusted Source to reduce stress is to get active, stretch, and practice deep breathing.
What lowers blood pressure fast naturally?
Natural ways to lower blood pressure include:
reduce stress, such as through breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga
exercise regularly
eat a balanced diet
reduce alcohol, sodium, and caffeine intake
maintain a moderate weight
quit smoking
What home remedy can someone drink to lower blood pressure?
A small 2020 studyTrusted Source found that people who drank an additional two bottles of water on top of their usual daily intake experienced decreased systolic blood pressure. However, more research is needed to support this finding.
Can someone reverse blood pressure naturally?
Natural lifestyle changes, including dietary changes and regular exercise, can help lower high blood pressure levels and reduce a person’s risk of associated health complications.
