Unhealthy meals, alcohol, and mercury-contaminated fish can impair cognition. You shouldn't avoid these items, but limit them. Brain health benefits from a diet of whole, fresh foods.
Sugary drinks induce obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and brain damage. High sugary drink consumption is connected to type 2 diabetes, which increases Alzheimer's risk. Even without diabetes, high blood sugar increases dementia risk.
Sugary Drinks
Refined carbs include sugar and white bread.Many carbs have high GI. Rapid digestion increases blood sugar and insulin levels.When eaten in significant numbers, these foods are high in glycemic load. Serving size affects GL, which raises blood sugar.High-GI, high-GL diets impair cognition.
Refined Carbs
Trans fats are brain-damaging unsaturated fats. No problem with natural trans fats in meat and dairy. Industrial trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils) cause problems. Trans fats are in shortening, margarine, frosting, snacks, cakes, and cookies.
Foods High in Trans Fats
Many processed foods are high in fat, sugar, and salt. These include chips, chocolates, instant noodles, microwave popcorn, store-bought sauces, and ready-made meals. This dish is high in calories and lacking in nutrition. These foods increase weight, which may affect the brain.
Highly Processed Foods
Many sugar-free products contain aspartame. People with diabetes take it to lose weight or avoid sweets. Many non-diabetic products contain it. This popular sweetener may cause behavioral and cognitive difficulties, although the research is conflicting.
Aspartame
Moderate drinking can enhance a meal. Brain damage might result from excessive intake. Chronic alcoholism reduces brain capacity, metabolism, and neurotransmitters.
Alcohol depletes vitamin B1.
Alcohol
Animal tissues can collect mercury, a neurotoxin.Long-lived predators can collect 1 million times their water content in mercury. People get most mercury from fish, especially wild species. Mercury concentrates in the brain, liver, and kidneys.