At the end of the day, we all just want to be the best version of ourselves, right? We want to be healthy and live a long happy life! We all know that maintaining a healthy diet and participating in regular exercise are the pillars of physical health, but how often do we really stop to think about how the food we put into our bodies affects our minds?
How does food affect the brain?
We think of food as energy—it’s the fuel that powers everything we do! There are plenty of foods that we consume on a regular basis, however, that are doing exactly the opposite. A lot of the processed foods we casually ingest are actually preventing optimal brain function by affecting our memory, killing our energy, and even shifting our moods!
Avoid these 3 Brain-Blocking Processed Foods:
1. Processed Meats
- Many of the common processed meats we buy everyday (lunch meat, bacon, deli-counter cold cuts) are loaded in nitrosamines.
- Nitrosamines are organic compounds that cause the liver to produce excess fats. These excess fats are toxic to the brain! They prevent optimal brain health by impeding memory, alertness, and general cognitive function.
2. White Foods (AKA Refined Carbs)
- Many white foods including pasta, bread, white sugar, white rice, flour, etc. are high in refined carbohydrates.
- Refined carbs are highly processed and rank at the top of the glycemic index. These foods are processed quickly in the body and can lead to a sudden spike in sugar or insulin levels in the body.
- Meals that carry a heavy glycemic load can impair memory and overall brain function.
3. Fish High in Mercury
- Mercury is a dangerous heavy metal contaminant which acts as a neurological poison when consumed in large quantities. It can also be stored in animal tissue for a long period of time.
- Fish is a wonderful, nutritional protein with many benefits! Pay attention to your fish consumption and avoid or limit eating fish that have higher mercury levels: tuna, swordfish, shark, etc.
In addition to removing harmful foods from your diet, consider implementing a daily supplement that helps boost your memory, retention, energy and overall cognitive performance!