What Foods Are Toxic To Our Brains?

When it comes to food and good health, everything in moderation (as the saying goes). But do keep in mind that there are some foods that are worse for us than others, especially given the negative impacts that they can have on our brains!

Those foods are:

Ultra-processed foods: fast food causes “fast” brain damage. These foods, jam-packed with unhealthy fats, high levels salt, and artificial ingredients speed up cognitive decline and are then linked to a heightened risk of dementia. Diets dominated by ultra-processed foods promote systemic inflammation, vascular injury, and insulin resistance, all of which accelerate cognitive aging.

Mercury-laden fish: High-mercury fish such as shark, swordfish, and king mackerel deliver methylmercury, a potent disruptor of neurodevelopment and cognition. Soda (diet or otherwise): want bubbles? Go for seltzer or sparkling water. Sodas and sugar-beverages can lead to memory trouble, slow cognition and even shrinkage to various parts of the brain. Artificial sweeteners - especially in your favorite diet sodas - are to blame for high likelihood of stroke and dementia in later life.

Alcohol (a ‘bonus’ one as not a food per se): Alcohol is the most widely consumed neurotoxin, linked to measurable brain volume loss and cognitive decline.

Alcohol, mercury-laden fish, and ultra-processed junk food and sodas — those are the big three brain toxins hiding in plain sight. Alcohol erodes brain cells, mercury disrupts thinking, and processed fats and sugars inflame and age the brain. The damage isn’t subtle, and it’s not rare.