It’s not just brain games—your diet plays a crucial role in cognitive health. An eye-opening article reveals the popular foods and beverages that neurologists and neuroscientists rarely touch, and the reasons might surprise you.
Turns out, your favorite protein shake or even that decaf coffee might be doing more harm than good!
Key Foods & Why Experts Avoid Them:
- French Fries (Deep-Fried Foods/Ultra-Processed): Neurologist Dr. Pedram Navab avoids French fries because a diet incorporating fatty foods “can damage blood vessels that supply the brain, causing cognitive impairment.” This damage can reduce the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and harm the hippocampus, a vital part of the brain for learning and memory.
- Protein Powder: Many contain artificial sweeteners that “wreak havoc on your gastrointestinal microbiome,” according to neuroscientist Friederike Fabritius. Since “most of our neurotransmitters are produced in the gut,” this is a big concern for brain health.
- Soda (and Diet Soda): Neurologist Dr. Shaheen Lakhan calls it “one of the worst foods for brain health” due to high simple sugars that “damage the blood vessels supplying the brain,” potentially leading to premature dementia and strokes. The artificial sweeteners in diet versions also “stress out the brain.”
- Margarine: Avoided due to trans fats. As neurologist Dr. Shae Datta notes, what’s bad for the heart vessels applies to the brain vessels, too.
- Decaf Coffee: Neuroscientist Sean Callan suggests skipping it unless you’re sure the decaffeination process is solvent-free, as many solvents used (like methylene chloride) are “generally toxic to humans” and linked to neurological harm.
Read the full HuffPost Life article to learn which other popular items—including beer, cannabis-infused foods, and other potential ultra-processed culprits—are on their no-go list!
👉 Read the full article by Leigh Weingus: Neurologists Share The 1 Food They Never (Or Rarely) Eat
#BrainHealth #Neurology #DietAndNutrition #CognitiveFunction #UltraProcessedFood #HealthyEating #Neuroscience