Fried foods damage your brain
When we cook, vegetable oil becomes another form of fats, called saturated fats, which help cholesterol to be located in the arteries. Once fried, the food slowly destroyed the nerve cells of the brain, impairing our ability to learn and for new memories. Obviously there are oils more dangerous than others. The sunflower is one of the most toxic to our body. "Overeating unhealthy foods can lead to overweight but looking beyond, we have found a worrisome link between a high-fat diet and brain-related diseases," explains Terry Davidson in his article published in the journal Neurology.
Added sugar damages your brain
The long-term consumption of sugar can cause a lot of neurological problems and affect memory, reducing our ability to learn. Thus, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), those people who consumed between 17-21% of calories in sugar had a high risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed around the same time. 8% sugar in your daily calories. The risk more than doubled for those who consumed more than 21%
Fast food damages your brain
Fast food has been shown to cause changes in the chemistry of our brain, causing symptoms similar to withdrawal, including anxiety and depression. Fast food also affects the production of dopamine, a hormone that also participates in cognitive function, specifically in the ability to learn, motivation and memory. Thus, abusing fast food (more than 3 or 4 times a week) can not only cause obesity or heart problems, but also damage your brain.
Processed foods damage your brain
Chemically processed foods are replete with high levels of sugar, fructose, sodium, partially hydrogenated oils (known as trans fats). "Processed foods and foods that are hyper-allergenic can damage brain health," according to sports nutrition specialist Brandon Mentore. In fact, processed or precooked food affects the central nervous system and increases the risk of developing a neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer's disease. It is not about eliminating them completely from our diet since it is not bad to eat this type of food but what we should avoid is eating them often or eating excessive amounts if we want to maintain a healthy and strong brain.
Trans fats damage your brain
The journal Neurology published a study whose findings showed that a high intake of trans fats (present chips, for example) is linked to brain shrinkage. According to nutritionist Tori Holthaus "diets high in trans fat increase beta-amyloid in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease." And is that trans fats are not only harmful to the heart or overweight, but also for our thinking organ. These fats slow down reflexes and our brain response capacity and increase the risk of suffering a stroke.
Caffeine damages your brain
While it is true that caffeine helps the brain to be alert, it also provides a negative side. The US Food and Drug Administration says that 600 milligrams of caffeine a day can cause headaches, raise anxiety and sleep disorders. An exaggerated intake of caffeine can cause confusion, hallucinations and, ultimately, death.
Fructose damages your brain
The sugar substitute, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, hinders the functioning of brain cells and how they store the energy needed to process both learning and thoughts. This component reduces our ability to learn and remember information, according to research published in The Journal of Physiology.
Salt damages your brain
As simple as that. Excess salt affects your intelligence, because salty foods have a negative echo in our heart health and blood pressure but also in our brain, because they impair our ability to think. In fact, a study published in the journal Neurobiology concluded that diets high in sodium were associated with poor vascular health, which in turn leads to faster cognitive decline.
Foods with monosodium glutamate damage your brain
Monosodium glutamate, also known as GMS, is marketed by the food industry as a flavor enhancer, because it balances and highlights the nuance of other flavors. It is very popular in Asian cuisine but its components affect the chemistry of our brain through the overexcitation of our cells to the point of brain damage. "MSG is hidden in various sources, including: natural flavors, spices, hydrolysed proteins, broths or isolated soy protein," says chiropractor Chad Laurence. According to the Food and Drug Administration, several studies have shown that glutamate injections in laboratory mice have caused damage to nerve cells in the brain, associated with pathologies such as Huntington's disease or Alzheimer's. An excessive intake of these foods can also cause headaches, fatigue, disorientation, obesity and depression.