SMELLS of bacon boost brain power and make us happy, scientists say.
The breakfast favorite has 150 scents, including some that stimulate activity in our little gray cells.
Experts have found that porky pong increases our sense of smell, alertness, memory and ability to process what we see.
The smell of sizzling rashes also provides waves of serotonin and dopamine that put us in a good mood.
Even the mention of the word bacon sets our happy-eating drivers into action.
Research has also found that bacon can help with communication between the brain and the gut – potentially boosting digestion and the body’s immune responses.
Professor Hugo Alexandre Ferreira, from the University of Lisbon, analyzed studies on bacon from around the world.
He said: “The sensory and nutritional elements of bacon may play a role in cognitive enhancement when introduced as part of a well-balanced diet.”
In a trial that Professor Ferreira analyzed, a Mediterranean diet that included lean pork led to greater brain processing speed and emotional role functioning compared to a low-fat diet.
Additional tests showed the same findings with bacon, he said.
For his research, he teamed up with Bristol-based bacon and sausage company The Jolly Hog.
Its co-founder, Olly Kohn, said: “We’ve always known that a bacon butty is a great way to start the day, so knowing there’s real scientific backing makes us even more determined to spread joy with our products.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
