Do you ever feel unfocused or mentally sluggish? Brain fog might be the culprit—and your diet could be to blame! Certain foods actually contribute to your brain fog, which makes it harder for you to concentrate and process even the simplest information. If you notice these, then it’s time to fix your diet and cleanse your body. But first, it’s important to know the foods that cause your brain fog. With that, here are the 10 foods you should avoid for a sharper, more focused mind.
10. Sugary Drinks
While Sugary Drinks like soda and juices you can easily get from convenience stores are refreshing, they might contribute to your brain fog. Blood sugar spikes from these Sugary Drinks lead to inflammation of the brain that carries brain fog. Even diet sodas, which trick you into being the “healthier option,” are linked to complete stroke and dementia even when sipped once a day.
9. Fried Foods
Who doesn’t love Fried Foods? They become our guilty pleasure, especially on days when we feel an intense craving for them. But you might want to take a step back as they produce compounds that damage our blood vessels and affect our cognitive function or the functioning of our brains.
8. Doughnuts
It’s no wonder that our favorite Doughnuts carry high sugar content from the bread, glaze, frosting, and toppings. In fact, you might get an inflammation double-whammy due to the deep frying process and excess sugar. Many Doughnuts are also found to contain trans fats that affect your brain cell membranes, leading to a communication blur that causes issues such as memory and focus loss.
7. Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs are found to be high in sodium, nitrates, and preservatives that cause inflammation of the body. Hot Dogs are also processed meat that is high in salt and saturated fat, which is another cause of inflammation. Aside from this, mental toxicity is also linked with these fast food regulars as it triggers the overproduction of stress hormones that affect the way you think.
6. Frozen Meals
It comes as no surprise that Frozen Meals are dangerous to our health, but did you know that it contributes to brain fog, too? Frozen Meals contain high amounts of hydrogenated oil or trans fat which may affect your brain performance and become a culprit to your cognitive decline. It’s better to take a little time out of your day to prepare your own meals than be sorry later on.
5. Caffeinated Drinks
We all need caffeine as our go-to wake-up drink to stay alert and focused. But you might be surprised that they’re actually linked with brain fog. Why? Excessive consumption of it causes dehydration and overstimulation of the nervous system. Headache and fatigue are common results of it, which is an actual implication of brain fog.
4. White Rice
White Rice is an Asian staple as it goes well when paired with different Asian dishes. However, you might want to step back as it’s identified as a refined grain or chemically processed. It may be successful in spiking your energy level, but it may also leave you feeling tired, which sets off brain fog.
3. Bottled Dressings
When buying a Bottled Dressing for your salad, check if it contains high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup. This certain ingredient has the same stuff as soda and other sugary drinks. They’re linked with a number of serious health problems, which include memory loss and a decline in brain performance. Try making your own salad instead at home
2. Rib-Eye Steak
Sadly, this high-end steak ruins the way that you think as it contains the fattiest cut of beef. Did you know that even just a portion of it has 48 grams of fat? That’s already 73% of the recommended intake. Not only does it contain saturated fat that ruins your brain performance, but it also contributes to Alzheimer’s disease. You might want to slow down with your intake.
1. Tuna
Who knew that Tuna, which is rich in omega-3 and reduces the likelihood of heart attack and stroke can actually be one of the culprits for brain fog? Fish such as tuna, ahi, and swordfish are found to have high amounts of mercury that can lead to about a 5% decrease in brain function when you consume them too much.