Random snacking can disrupt brain function.

The scientists conducted a series of experiments on rats that were fed normal diets or foods high in sugar and fat. After that, they tested their short-term memory and studied the microbiota in feces. The rats that ate the junk food had more bacteria associated with obesity and fewer strains of beneficial microbes associated with weight control. The researchers also noted cognitive impairment in animals that were fed unhealthy food for several days.