By now you probably know that certain foods can have either a positive or negative affect on your health. Fatty foods, for example, can clog your arteries and lead to cardiovascular problems. But did you know that the food you eat can even effect your brain?

Food as Brain Power
The food you eat serves as fuel for your body energy to sustain necessary functions such as digestion, respiration and more. Some of your organs are able to convert nutrients into energy themselves, using glucose stores to power their function.

The brain is the largest consumer of energy in your body and it is one of the organs that cannot produce its own energy. This being the case, eating healthy foods is the key to keeping your brain healthy and energized. If you do not properly feed and fuel your brain, you may start to feel sluggish or have trouble concentrating you could even have trouble with short-term memory performance.

What Not to Eat Bad Brain Foods
You may have heard that certain foods and supplements help to improve memory and overall cognitive function, but it could come as a surprise to hear that some foods can actually pose an obstacle to your intelligence and healthy brain function.

Some of the worst foods for your brain are listed below:

Salty Foods High sodium intake has been linked to decreased cognitive performance. A study conducted over the course of 3 years with 1,200 people found that the people with the highest sodium intake had the lowest levels of cognitive performance.

Fatty Foods High-fat foods have been shown to damage the hypothalamus in the brain the region which produces the hormones that control hunger, sleep and mood. Other studies have linked fast food consumption to the kind of brain shrinkage that is known to contribute to Alzheimers.

Processed Food Processed foods contain all kinds of artificial chemicals and preservatives which can destroy nerve cells in the brain. These foods may also produce exotoxins which affect the nervous system.

Fried Foods Overuse of common cooking oils has been shown to increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. When heated to frying temperature, certain cooking oils like sunflower oil and flaxseed oil, compounds called aldehydes are formed which have a negative effect on brain function.

Increasing Brain Power
Not only should you make an effort to avoid the bad brain foods listed above, but you should also think about including some more brain-boosting foods in your diet. Some of the best foods for the brain include avocado, blueberries, wild salmon, nuts and seeds, garlic, tomato and leafy green vegetables. Blueberries are particularly beneficial for memory while leafy greens like spinach and arugula help to improve mood.

Your brain is the most powerful tool you have, so dont you want to take care of it? Avoid brain-busting foods and add more brain-boosting foods to your diet!