When it comes to protecting your brain health, the are a handful of ways to do it, and it's no secret that diet is one of them. There's definitely one specific thing you should avoid to protect your brain health (we'll get to that below), but there are also some general best practices to think about as well.

For example, experts agree that ultra-processed and highly sweetened foods are bad for your brain health—and your health in general. 

"A whole food, plant-based diet and decreasing the amount of ultra-processed foods you eat helps our bodies and brains function at a higher level,"  "When you eat a ton of processed foods, the opposite happens. These foods cause inflammation, which can damage the blood vessels that supply the brain with the blood it needs to function optimally."  Our gut health influences everything from your weight to your mood to your immune system and cognitive ability. It can be the reason for your fatigue, contributing to depression, and of course, the⁠ cause of your digestive issues. The brain and the gut have a strong connection, which is why some people feel sick to their stomach under stress."

High-sugar foods are also a no-go, and there's a lot of intersection between ultra-processed foods and foods high in sugar.

The "high-sugar" qualifier isn't limited to just traditional sugar, but also to foods and beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.

"Excessive sugar consumption has been associated with impaired cognitive function," Patno explains. "Higher blood glucose levels have been linked to dementia in a large study following people for several years."

there have been links between type 2 diabetes and the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia. "For this reason, foods that increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains and processed meats should be reduced," Foods that are unhealthy for your heart are also bad for your brain."

This is largely because heart-healthy habits decrease your risk of both heart attacks and stroke, both of which can cause severe brain damage and death. Further,, "High-fat foods clog the arteries in your body—making it hard for blood to perfuse your organs. Foods with high sugar content also overwhelm parts of your body causing hyperglycemia, which may cause problems in the long term."