Finally, an introduction to two more of the alpacas’ “friends”. Shikha, a chocolate Burmese (very dark – I think he must be 70% chocolate!) and his sister, Shanti, a lilac Burmese. I’m not sure how friendly the alpacas are with the cats. The cats certainly go into the paddock with the alpacas, but they need to be wary because I’ve seen the alpacas chase them occasionally, especially Geisha.

Jj is for Jottings 27. Your Brain on Junk Food.
New Australian research from Deakin University and Australian National University confirms that junk food damages the brain. The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning, so if it isn’t functioning properly, then our brains aren’t, either. Hunger and satiety (having had enough to eat) cues can also be disturbed by damage to the hippocampus as well.
The study found that men and women between 60 and 64 who consumed the most junk food (in this case defined as processed meat, sweet/soft drinks and salty foods) had smaller hippocampi than those who ate more healthy food (vegetables, fruit and fish). These results held even when other factors which might affect the hippocampus were controlled for – gender, activity level, smoking, education and depression. This study has shed light on at least one of the pathways by which eating an unhealthy diet can lead to decline in mental abilities and mental health. Although the study was done at the older end of the population, it obviously applies to all age groups, since the hippocampus is key to learning and memory throughout life.
Related studies support the evidence. Rats fed a diet high in sugar and fat performed significantly worse on memory tests than rats fed a normal diet. The junk food rats had trouble finding objects and couldn’t determine when an object had moved.
A 2011 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that healthy individuals who splurged on 5 days of junk foods did much worse on brain tests that measured attention, speed, and mood.
Scientists have not yet pinpointed just how junk food impacts the brain, but inflammation is thought to be a key factor, particularly inflammation in the hippocampus.
When you think about it, you wouldn’t put the wrong fuel or dirty fuel into a car and expect it to run properly, so why would we expect our bodies to function properly if we don’t give it the fuel it needs?