Everything you eat directly affects the functionality of your brain. If you eat healthy foods then your brain functions will be improved as well, but some foods can damage your brain. This article will list 5 foods that are harmful for your brain.

5 Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid For a Healthy Brain

1. Highly Processed Foods

Foods that are heavily processed often have lots of added salts, added fats, and sugar. These foods tend to be packed with calories but lack nutritional content. These foods lead to weight gain and even impact your brain functions.

According to Niloufar Esmaeilpour, Registered Clinical Counsellor and founder of Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, Canada, reducing intake of highly processed foods can decrease the risk of cognitive decline and support overall brain health.

A study conducted by Ralph L. Widya et.al published in Obesity Journal concluded that having good connections in the brain is linked to having more overall body fat and less internal belly fat. Some foods that belong into this category are:

  • Pretzels
  • Pasta sauce
  • Instant noodles
  • Mixed nuts
  • Bottled salad dressing
  • Tortilla chips

2. Trans Fats

Foods

Trans Fats are unsaturated fats that are known to negatively impact your brain health. Although natural trans fats are present in dairy and meat products, the main problem is with the artificial trans fats that are produced in industries.

A research study conducted by E Ginter et.al found that Trans fats have also been connected to unhealthy lipid levels, inflammation, and insulin resistance.[1] These factors raise the chances of developing metabolic syndrome. These foods belong into this category:

  • French fries
  • All deep fried foods
  • Margarine
  • Shortening
  • Frosting
  • Microwave popcorn
  • Creamy frozen drinks
  • Potato chips
  • Pork sausage links
  • Cheese and crackers

3. Fried Foods

As it was mentioned above, you should always strive to avoid fried foods. But why are fried foods unhealthy for you?

The fried foods that you eat in restaurants are usually coated in a mix of refined flour or any other kind of batter and then deep-fried in oil. Due to this, the food absorbs high amount of fat and loses their water content which makes them high in calories. Wei Bao et.al published a research paper in the journal BMJ Heart in 2021 which suggested, eating a lot of fried foods can make it[2] more likely for people to experience serious heart-related issues.

Specifically, it was found that a diet high in fried foods raises the risk of major cardiovascular events by 28%, coronary heart disease by 22%, stroke by 37%, and heart failure by 37%. Some examples of fried foods:

  • Chips
  • Buffalo wings
  • Fried chicken
  • Corn dog
  • Chimichanga
  • Doughnuts
  • Egg rolls
  • French fries yet again.

4. Processed Foods

Processed foods are bad for your health. Food additives, preservatives, food dyes have a negative impact on cognitive functions and behavior in children.

Lancet published a study in 2007 which revealed that excessive intake of processed foods, foods that contain additives and food colorings can lead to hyperactivity. A team from the UN created NOVA, a system for classifying foods based on how much they’re processed and why they’re processed. They divided the processed food into four different categories like:

  • Minimally Processed Foods- They are added as additives to preserve the original flavor of the food.
  • Lightly Processed Foods- They are the foods that are canned immediately after the harvesting process.
  • Culinary Processed Foods- They undergo changes through methods like pressing, refining, grinding, and other ways to make them suitable for cooking.
  • Heavily Processed Foods- These foods contain five or more ingredients and often include many unnatural components.

    • Artificial food additives consist of about 3000 different chemicals that are added to your food. Naturally, consumption of these foods isn’t beneficial for your health and things get even worse when you eat this type of food on a daily basis. For MSG that is used to emphasize the flavor of the food destroys nerve cells in the brain and encourages seizure-like behavior.
    A study from 1984 discovered that excitotoxins additives affect the nervous system.
    Some examples of processed foods are:

    • Processed meats
    • Packaged baked goods
    • Frozen dinners
    • Savory snacks
    • Canned vegetables
    • Microwave meals.

    5. Foods That Contain Pesticide Residue

    Foods That Contain Pesticide Residue

    Pesticides are chemicals that farmers often use in agriculture to shield crops from harm by insects, weeds, and diseases. But,what if the pesticides are consumed by humans? There can be serious effects.

    In order to overcome this, Environmental Working Group (EWG) which is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about topics such as farming methods, safeguarding natural resources, and the effects of chemicals on human health.[3] One study inspected the data from more than 25 million children and discovered that organophosphate pesticides affect IQ in children and preterm birth and ADHD.[4]

    Nature Neuroscience published the results of the study which showed that long-term exposure to pesticides can kill brain cells and trigger symptoms that are linked with Parkinson’s disease.[5] Increased intake of foods that contain pesticide residue leads to loss of neurons in some areas of the brain. Some examples of food of this category are:

    • Seeds
    • Vegetables
    • Fruits, especially berries.

    Naturally, as this type of food is of extreme importance for your health, this doesn’t mean you have to eliminate fruits and vegetables from your diet plan. Here are some ways to avoid eating pesticides with your food:

    • Wash produce thoroughly
    • Dry the produce with clean towel or paper towel
    • Throw away the outer layers of leafy vegetables e.g. kale or lettuce
    • Don’t limit yourself to one fruit type or vegetable type, eat a variety of produce.

    Tips for Better Health and Brain Function

    • Instead of frying the food, you should bake or cook.
    • If you love dairy products then buy ones with reduced levels of fat.
    • Instead of buying instant meals, cook your lunch and dinner.
    • Unprocessed meat is always better than processed meat.
    • Include a lot of fruits and vegetables into your diet and don’t forget to wash them of course.

    Conclusion

    Some foods like processed foods, fatty foods, fried foods etc. can harm your brain by decreasing cognitive functions and leading to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. You should stay away from fried food and eat cooked or baked food. Include fruits and vegetables into your diet and make sure you wash them thoroughly when you bring them home from the store.

    If you are looking for alternatives to keep your mind energized, then you may include a dietary supplement. Check out NeuroIGNITE Review, which is one of the brain enhancing supplements.

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    5 Sources

    We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

    [1] Harmful effects of trans-fatty acids : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27215959/
    [2] Fried Food Consumption : https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.k5420
    [3] Environmental Working Group : https://www.ewg.org/who-we-are/our-mission#.W00AKtPwZ-U
    [4] Organophosphate Pesticides : https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1003185
    [5] Pesticide : https://www.nature.com/articles/35041740
    Author
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    Jason Vredenburg, RD

    Jason Vredenburg is a nutrition writer with over twenty years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. He has researched and written nu