There are foods that we love, especially those that are high in sugar or fat. We know that there is food that damages our health, food that comes with regret for having consumed it when we’re on a diet, or that we simply want to avoid because it doesn’t align with the lifestyle we’re aiming for. Perhaps if we knew that it not only affects our body in one way, that it’s not just about gaining or losing weight, and that obesity is not the only condition we can suffer… perhaps then we would think twice before consuming them.
This is a list of foods that, according to Sarah Romero, harm our brains and prevent us from maximizing our brain capacity. By avoiding them, our minds can streamline their functions, and we can feel much better mentally.
Fried Foods
There are much healthier alternatives, but the taste associated with fried food often makes it the preferred option. While we know that fried foods cause cardiovascular diseases due to the saturated fats they contain, they can also slowly destroy nerve cells in the brain, making something as common as learning becomes a problem.
Sugar
While fried foods inhibit our ability to learn new things, sugar makes it difficult to retain the information we already have and gradually makes us forget. In addition to this, people who consume between 17% and 21% of sugar are at high risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who only consume 8%.
Fast Food
The base of any poorly made nutritional pyramid; fast food is a simple option when living a fast-paced life in a big city because it is easily accessible, cheap, and often delicious. Unfortunately, it contains a variety of preservatives that can even alter brain chemistry, causing symptoms similar to those experienced by drug-dependent individuals when experiencing withdrawal symptoms. That’s why this food is so dangerous. The ease with which someone can become addicted is such that there are even cases in the United States where people have sued McDonald’s, blaming them for their obesity.
Processed Foods
Another major problem in the diet of much of the current population is processed foods. At first, it was a great idea for food to reach many more regions than was possible without chemical treatment, but they do nothing good for our bodies. Today, processed foods have been removed from the diets of many people due to the health damage they can cause. According to sports nutrition specialist Brandon Mentore, processed foods affect the central nervous system and can catalyze Alzheimer’s disease. He does not recommend cutting them out 100% from a diet, but reducing their consumption if it is very high.
Trans Fats
According to Sarah Romero, the journal Neurology published a study showing that excessive consumption of trans fats is linked to brain shrinkage, and like processed foods, these fats can also be breeding grounds for Alzheimer’s. In addition, trans fats, which are usually found in snacks like potato chips, can increase the risk of stroke in individuals.
Caffeine
The most consumed psychoactive substance in the world is caffeine, and although the effects of this drug are not like those of other psychoactive substances, excessive consumption of this substance (according to the United States Food and Drug Administration) can cause headaches, increase anxiety, and produce sleep-related disorders.
Salt
Salt, that substance that adds more “flavor” to food, is not good in excess. In Mexico City, salt consumption was so high that now salt shakers are not placed on restaurant tables. This is because salt with high sodium content can cause cardiovascular diseases; moreover, salty foods also harm cognitive processes.
Artificial Sweeteners
While trying to protect ourselves from the disastrous effects that sugar can have on some people, we must also be careful of alternatives. Artificial sweeteners, which have become so popular in recent years, can make long-term consequences much worse than the first option. The damage they can cause is also related to people’s cognitive ability.
This story was written in Spanish by Daniel Morales Olea in Cultura Colectiva.