Foods that make you dumb

Being dumb isn’t only about a sad state of brain. Recent studies have surmised that certain foods, if consumed in large quantities, can affect your brain health. Following is a list of foods that are impacting your much-valued smartness.

When it comes to our health, we all know that excess of sugar isn’t exactly sweet. A new research indicates that more sugar than recommended may take a toll on your brain as well. High consumption of sugar affects your memory and your ability to learn. Too much sugar in your blood restricts your brain cells’ use of insulin to break down sugar which aids in processing thoughts and emotions. This leads to a decrease in brain activity.

A research found that women who ate more saturated fat scored lower on tests for brain function and memory. And women who ate more monounsaturated fats (found in foods like olive oil and avocado) had better scores.

A recent British study published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology found that chewing a gum during memorising something impaired participants’ short-term memories. The researchers believe the act of chewing may get in the way of concentrating on memory tasks.

Discarding carbs from your diet can gradually weaken your brainpower, energy and mood. A study of 19 women between ages 22 and 55 found that when people who were dieting eliminated carbohydrates, they showed a gradual weakening of cognitive skills.

We all are well aware that salt affects our heart rate and blood pressure. But besides this, salt affects our cognitive functioning too. Adding raw salt to your food is even worse. Salt does not only lessen your ability to think, but also causes many other problems such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke. So, try to consume salt in moderation.

Junk food is addictive and addiction affects the brain. It turns out that if you discontinue eating junk food, it triggers symptoms similar to depression and anxiety. Consuming high amounts of junk food for a long period of time can lead to memory loss. In some severe cases, it has also led to Alzheimer’s disease.

There are healthy foods which, when fried, become unhealthy. For example, consuming fish has many health benefits but eating it fried is unhealthy. The same goes for some other fried foods, such as chicken. Such fried foods can lead to weakened brainpower.

These foods contain harmful chemicals like preservatives, additives, dyes and artificial flavors which affect your behavior and cognitive functioning, thus making you dumb. Consuming large quantities of processed and precooked foods over a lifetime can gradually cause your brain to shrink.

Consuming nicotine causes the capillaries between your blood vessels to shrink, which affects the function of neurotransmitters and, thus brain function. And the stoppage of nicotine intake causes a brain fog, which causes nicotine users to develop dependency.

Say no to alcohol because consumption of alcohol lowers your ability to think clearly and to recall information. If you can’t recall the names of common items or you are not able to differentiate between your dreams and reality, then you are likely a heavy alcohol user and need to stop it ASAP.

This one is surprising, as tofu is generally regarded as a healthy food. But tofu can be harmful if consumed in large quantities. A research was done and its results show that those who consumed a lot of tofu were more at risk of memory loss.

Was the last movie you watched terrifying? Then you probably haven’t taken a close look at your popcorn bucket. Many major brands that make microwaveable popcorn line their bags with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the same material which is found in teflon pots and pans. Some studies have linked it to infertility, weight gain, and impaired learning. In fact, butter-flavored popcorns are always laced with diacetyl (DA), a chemical that has been found to break down the layer of cells that protects our brain.

Other than these foods, one should also try not getting dehydrated. A lack of water in the body can cause the brain to shrink, which affects memory, focus and decision-making.

Disclaimer: This should not be considered as a substitute for Physician's advice. Please consult your treating Physician for more details.