Top 9 Foods That May Harm Your Brain

The brain is an important organ for life and health. Without it, we would not exist. Keeping the mind well nourished with super foods that support that brain is vital, but staying away from foods that harm the way the brain functions is extremely important too. The guide below will provide information on foods that may harm your brain.

• Sugar Rich Foods

Long-term consumption of sugar can create a wealth of neurological problems, and it can interfere with your memory. This creates learning difficulties, memory loss and cause brain fog, which causes you to think improperly. Foods to avoid with sugar in them are pre-baked goods, table sugar, corn syrup, processed foods and candy.

• Alcohol

Alcohol is another dangerous food for the brain. It causes mental confusion and hinders your ability to think clearly when it is needed and can sometimes even cause memory loss. To avoid alcohol stay away from wines, beers, hard liquor, and treats that contain this substance.

• Processed Junk Foods

Processed junk foods wreak havoc on the mind by changing the chemical chemistry in the brain. This can lead to symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Junk food is typically high in trans fats too, which can also trigger mental disorders. These foods also affect the production of dopamine, an important chemical that promotes happiness and that feel good feeling.

• Fried Foods

Fried foods slowly destroy the nerve cells located in the brain. This is because the oils used to fry the foods can be dangerous. Fried foods also are made with refined sugars and processed based ingredients, which can also contribute to poor nerve functioning as well.

• Pre-Cooked Foods

Pre-cooked foods affect the central nervous system of the brain, which increases the risk of degenerative brain disorder later on in life. One of those disorders being Alzheimer’s disease.

• Salty Foods

Everybody knows that salty foods affect your blood pressure and they are very hard on your heart. However, not many people know it can impair your ability to think. In fact, salty foods affect your intelligence! In addition, the consumption of salty foods can have the same effect as nicotine by creating withdrawals.

• Grains

Grains have an impact on your brain function and your overall health, except for true whole grains rich in fiber which are known to prevent arterial aging. If you consume regular grains, your body tends to age quicker than it is supposed to, which can lead to memory loss and confusion. Instead, swap regular carbohydrate foods to complex carbohydrates that are pure whole grains.

• Trans Fats

Trans fats are horrible for brain health. They make your brain more sluggish, they affect your reflexes and the quality of your brain response time. In fact, trans fats can lead to stroke, which can cause the mind to shut down and function poorly.  If trans fats are consumed for too long, brain shrinkage can occur, causing mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This brain shrinkage takes place because trans fats slowly damage the arteries. You can prevent this by simply limiting your intake of trans fats.

• Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners can cause brain damage and interfere with your cognitive capacity, especially if you use high amounts of sweetener. Instead, replace artificial sweeteners and table sugars with honey, maple syrup and nectar instead.

End Notes

By now, you should have a better understanding of the types of foods that harm brain function. If you are experiencing poor brain function now, maybe it is time to remove some of these foods from your diet to help improve your brain health.