Brain Detoxification

Brain Detoxification top food

Apples

The effects of oxidative stress from the host of dangerous chemicals our brains come in contact with over time is often what contributes to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In studies, researchers were able to link a potent anxioxidant found in apples called quercetin to a decrease in congnitive function in aging brains.

Coffee

Good for coffee-lovers, that morning cup of joe may be the answer to improving your memory. Coffee beans are loaded with antioxidants, which not only give you a bit of an energy boost, but may also ward off long-term cognitive decline.

 

Cinnamon

This sweet spice with somewhat of a spicy kick to it may be beneficial for more than adding some flavor to your apple pie recipe. Cinnamon is high in two important brain boosting compounds called proanthocyanidins and cinnamaldehyde. These antioxidant compounds protect your brain at the cellular level, helping prolong cognitive function through the decades.

 

Curry Powder

Curry powder is an ingredient that you’ll find not only appetizing but also beneficial to your brain. Two of the main components of curry powder are ginger and turmeric. Both of these spices contain potent antioxidants that play a key role in reducing inflammation that can lead to the development of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. 

 

Red Wine

Red wine can be an excellent addition to a brain-healthy diet. The skin of grapes used to make red wine contains a powerful polyphenol compound known as resveratrol. This potent antioxidant plays a role in many metabolic functions and helps protect the brain from oxidative damage. 

Brain Food Negative Impact

Brain Food

Not good for brain:  Fructose (Natural Sugar)

In a 2012 UCLA study published in the Journal of Physiology, researchers found that a diet high in fructose over time can damage your memory and learning ability.

It's well known in the research world that a high fructose diet can also cause insulin resistance in your body over time, and possibly lead to type-2 diabetes and extra body fat.  If that's not enough, a high fructose diet also detrimentally affects your triglyceride levels in your blood as well as small dense LDL particles that cause plaque in your arteries.

So what we have here is high-fructose intake = impaired memory and learning in your brain, increased risk of diabetes, and increased risk of heart disease.

The average person eating a modern western diet of processed food consumes a LARGE quantity of fructose without even thinking about it from all of the soft drinks (high fructose corn syrup typically), sweetened juice drinks, orange juice, processed junk foods such as cakes and candies, as well as the HFCS that's added to store-bought salad dressings, breads and cereals, and even condiments like ketchup.

Note that many sports drinks, even though marketed as "healthy", can have large amounts of corn syrup or even crystalline fructose as their main sweetener.  These sports drinks can be equally as bad as a soda for your body and your brain.  beware clever marketing showing pictures these stuff.

Also note that agave syrup (aka, agave nectar) which is marketed as a "healthy" sweetener as well, is one of the most concentrated forms of processed fructose in sweeteners as well.

All of these fructose-laden foods and drinks are easy to avoid though if you choose to eat consciously... for example, make homemade salad dressings from your favorite olive oil and vinegar with added spices, or choose to drink unsweetened iced tea with lemon instead of sweetened drinks or juices.  If you use a lot of ketchup, try to reduce the quantity by mixing with mustard or hot sauce, which typically don't contain HFCS sweetener in any significant quantities.

Last thing to note about fructose... Yes, natural whole fruits do contain fructose, but generally contain MUCH smaller quantities of fructose than you would consume in a sweetened juice drink, soft drink or sweetened junk foods.  Also, the phytonutrients, antioxidants, and fiber that's contained in most whole fruits counteracts any negative effects of fructose.  I personally try to keep fruit intake to no more than 1-2 pieces a day due to the sugar and fructose content of larger amounts of fruit.

Trick:  Did you know that limes and lemons contain virtually zero fructose, and only 3-4 grams of total carbs in a whole lemon or lime, whereas a typical orange contains 6 grams of fructose and 25 grams of total sugar per fruit.  I squeeze lemons and limes daily into either water or teas for a healthy flavorful drink. Fresh lemon juice has even been shown to control blood sugar response from a meal...another bonus!

Few more Foods that's having negative impact for your Brain:

You probably already know some of the harmful health effects of these foods, but long term effects on your brain are yet another:-

Trans fats: strongly inflammatory in your entire body including damage to cell membranes throughout your body.  Avoid hydrogenated oils in processed foods and deep fried foods.

Mercury: studies show that mercury from pollution (coal burning plants are the biggest source of mercury pollution to air and water) and from fish that are high on the food chain such as tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish, etc can possibly cause long term negative effects on your brain.  Limit these types of fish to a couple times a month and focus more on fish such as salmon, trout, and many other types of smaller fish to reduce your mercury load.

Wheat based foods: In the groundbreaking book, Wheat Belly, Dr William Davis makes a very convincing argument that wheat has addictive properties in the brain.  Wheat contains compounds termed "exorphins" that have an effect in your brain similar to opiate drugs.  This explains why people have such a hard time giving up their beloved breads, cereals, pasta, and muffins because these foods are mildly addictive.

Positive Impact

There are plenty of superfoods, herbs, and spices that can protect your brain and your other organs too.

Did you know that turmeric is one of the highest antioxidant spices that also exhibits brain-protecting effects? In India, where curry containing turmeric and other spices is eaten daily, rates of Alzheimers disease is among the lowest in the world, proving some of the brain-protecting effects of turmeric.

In addition, the powerful DHA and EPA omega-3 fats in fish oil has been proven in countless studies to protect your brain from damage over the years.