5 foods that can damage your brain and increase your dementia risk and what to swap them for

Are you really gonna eat that?A neuroscientist is sounding the alarm about five foods that can accelerate cognitive decline, even increasing your odds of developing dementia.The good news is that he’s also offering up some easy swaps and better ways to consume.“What you eat not only affects your waistline — it also shapes your brain’s future,” says Dr.Ramon Velazquez, a neuroscience consultant and research advisor at Mind Lab Pro, a pioneer in brain health offering the world’s first universal nootropic designed to boost mental performance.Forty-two percent of Americans will experience dementia after the age of 55, according to resent research.

Several studies have suggested that a diet rich in sugar and saturated fat can contribute to inflammation in the brain, potentially damaging brain cells and raising the risk of dementia.According to Velazquez, every meal is an opportunity to protect or damage our neural connections.“The brain is incredibly resilient, but it’s also vulnerable to the constant barrage of inflammatory foods in the typical Western diet.And unlike other organs, the brain has a limited ability to repair itself once damage occurs.”Velazquez stressed that we should be concerned about brain health at every age, and edit our dinner plates accordingly.“The damage from poor dietary choices accumulates silently over decades.

The foods you eat in your 30s and 40s set the stage for how your brain will function in your 60s, 70s, and beyond.If you have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s, poor dietary choices can accelerate the onset of symptoms by years or even decades.”Alongside exercise, adequate rest, and mental stimulation, nutrition is critical in keeping the brain healthy as we age.What are the worst foods you can consume for cognitive health?Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contain high levels of sugar, salt additives, preservatives, artificial ingredients, and unhealthy fats; these convenient, packaged goods create infl...