In order to protect brain health and prevent diseases, the importance of doing brain-enhancing activities such as sudoku, crossword puzzles and chess is emphasized. Diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s that occur in the brain cause a decrease in the quality of life and difficulties in meeting basic needs. Experts have explained the foods you should stay away from in order to protect your brain health.
FOODS THAT DAMAGE BRAIN HEALTH
1- PROTEIN POWDER
Protein powders are often marketed as a healthy, low-calorie option for people trying to lose or lose weight. According to neurologist Friederike Fabritius, many of these protein powder products contain artificial sweeteners. “Additional ingredients in protein powders can harm your gastrointestinal microbiome. A healthy and strong internal microbiome is essential for excellent brain health because most of the neurotransmitters are produced in the gut,” Fabritius says.
2- Carbonated BEVERAGES
Neurologist Shaheen Lakhan says that soda is very bad for your brain. Sodas are one of the worst drinks for brain health due to their high concentration of sugar, which damages the blood vessels that feed the brain. Diet drinks also have a negative effect. This is because no-calorie additives stress the brain and trick the brain into consuming more calories and craving real sugar.
3- MARGARINE
Neurologist Shae Datta said she avoids margarine as much as possible because it contains trans fats. “We often hear that trans fats are not good for the heart and blood vessels. The same goes for brain vessels,” he said.
A study in the journal Neurology found that older adults with the highest levels of elaidic acid (a common type of trans fat) in their blood were more likely to develop dementia.
4- French Fries
French fries are one of the main foods that neurologist Pedram Navab avoids. Diets that include fatty foods like french fries can damage the blood vessels that feed the brain. “This reduces the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and causes nerve damage in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a role in learning and memory.”