Red Meat. It's high in saturated fat, which is bad for your heart as well as your brain. In fact, limiting red meat is a key tenet of the MIND Diet, a research-based eating program aimed at keeping your memory and thinking sharp.
The authors found a “significant association between meat consumption/abstention and depression and anxiety” People who ate meat had lower average depression and anxiety levels than meat abstainers. Vegan and vegetarianism were linked with psychiatric disorders and a significantly greater likelihood of depression.
Processed meat contains preservatives that are not present in fresh meat, such as nitrite which can turn into harmful compounds, increasing oxidative stress and inflammation [2]. Also, processed meat is often high in sodium levels, which could lead to high blood pressure, a risk factor for dementia [3].
People who regularly eat a lot of highly processed foods and drinks like cheeseburgers, chips, fried chicken, sausage, pizza, biscuits and sugary sodas are at increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new report.
Red Meat. It's high in saturated fat, which is bad for your heart as well as your brain. In fact, limiting red meat is a key tenet of the MIND Diet, a research-based eating program aimed at keeping your memory and thinking sharp.
Regularly consuming anything that is too processed, fatty or high in added sugar can increase brain inflammation and may impair your memory, and they usually don't contain any beneficial nutrients. These types of food include: Sugary drinks: Pop or soda.
What are the foods that fight memory loss? Berries, fish, and leafy green vegetables are 3 of the best foods that fight memory loss. There's a mountain of evidence showing they support and protect brain health.
Here are the top worst offenders: Processed meats & cheeses: Foods like bacon, ham, and meats from the deli counter contain nitrosamines. Nitrates cause increased fats in the liver, which can be toxic for the brain. Excessive consumption of processed meats can also increase the risk of dementia.
The prevalence of depression, anxiety and psychological stress among participants was 34, 40 and 42%, respectively. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress were significantly more prevalent among individuals in the top quartiles of red meat compared with those in the bottom quartile.
If you eat lots of processed meat, fried food, refined cereals, candy, pastries, and high-fat dairy products, you're more likely to be anxious and depressed. A diet full of whole fiber-rich grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish can help keep you on a more even keel.
Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following: Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene.
Nuts, Seeds and Legumes
All of these are shown to promote brain health and reduce age-related cognitive decline. Foods such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts, soybeans, lentils, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are all good choices to add to your diet if you're looking to score these benefits.
Many foods in the Western diet have been identified as risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's, including red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, and desserts. Excess alcohol intake, saturated fatty acids, and foods with a high number of calories are also risk factors for Alzheimer's.
Avocados
A source of healthful unsaturated fat, avocados may support the brain. Thus, by reducing high blood pressure, the unsaturated fats in avocados may lower the risk of cognitive decline.
Chicken is also relatively high in omega-6 fats, including arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that directly feeds cellular production of inflammatory chemicals.
Processed meats
Excessive salt intake, trans fats, and red meat are also potential culprits for brain fog.
Poultry, like chicken or turkey, pack in lean protein, choline, and iron, all of which support cognitive function, research shows. The American Hearst Association suggests opting for lean meat low in saturated fats, like poultry, over red or processed meats to keep your cholesterol at a heart-healthy level.
AGEs cause neuro-inflammation in the brain. And in animal models and human studies this is strongly linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. In a survey of 549 foods, fried bacon had by far the highest levels of AGEs. Although levels were high in steak, they were still ten times lower than for bacon.