American doctors named the most harmful products for the brain

1

One of the important ways to maintain health i brain – proper nutrition. “Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain,” explains Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, PhD, professor of integrative biology and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

American experts have been recommending various variations of the Mediterranean diet in recent years. diet to improve the health of the nervous system. At the same time, they recommend completely or partially abandoning some products.

Foods fried in partially hydrogenated oil, such as French fries, chicken nuggets, battered fish, mozzarella sticks, wontons, and onion rings, are high in trans fatty acids. These substances increase the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood.

“Trans fats are most strongly associated with the deterioration of memory in men during periods of their high productivity,” said Beatrice Golomb, MD, professor of Medicine School of the University of California, San Diego. This is confirmed by the observational data of Japanese and American doctors, who associate an increased risk of dementia with a high level of trans fat consumption.

Many nutritionists point to the benefits of the substances contained in dark chocolate for the brain. New research shows that cacao trees in Peru can accumulate large amounts of cadmium in their fruit, which can then end up in the finished product. “There is a limit to how much cadmium you should be getting,” explained Todd Cooperman, MD. To benefit from chocolate and avoid possible risks, he recommends eating no more than one serving per day.

“Numerous studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugar and impaired brain function, and even worse symptoms of mood disorders such as depression,” says Dr. Eva Selhub, a clinical fellow at the Benson Henry Institute. A lot of refined sugar is found in sweet carbonated drinks.

Drinks with artificial sugar substitutes are also considered dangerous for brain health by American doctors. Researchers have found that daily consumption of more than 24 ounces (680 g – editorial) of such drinks increases the risk of stroke in women by 23%. Studies have shown that long-term alcohol dependence can physically reduce the volume of the brain.

Research using magnetic resonance imaging showed that in chronic alcoholics, even after five days without alcohol, the speed of information processing in the lobes of the brain was reduced. , which are responsible for attention, learning, problem solving and impulsivity.