Processed Foods Damage Mood, Memory and More

Other studies confirm that processed foods can damage the brain and:

Stimulate uncontrollable mood changes: Research at Johns Hopkins demonstrates that chemicals like nitrates used to cure meats can lead to mania, a mood disorder that makes you hyperactive, unreasonably euphoric and liable to insomnia. These substances are in cured meats like salami, beef jerky and hot dogs.

Lead to depression: An investigation at the University of Kansas shows how too much sugar from processed food can set off inflammation and neurobiological brain processes that are connected with depression. In fact, the researchers say too much sugar during the winter holiday season is a “perfect storm” for depressive illness at a time of year when people don’t get enough sleep and get less sunlight.

Impair the development of neurons: A study at the University of Central Florida indicates that propionic acid, a preservative that prevents mold in processed bread and cheese, can slow or stop the growth of neurons in fetal brains and may be linked to autism.

Fight Back Against Processed Foods

Along with not eating processed foods in excess, when you do have a processed treat you can fight back against any negative effects with two healthy foods.

The first, according to a study in Asia, is green tea.

Lab tests show that the natural chemical in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, can at least partially offset the harmful brain issues linked to fructose. They also found that it limits weight gain linked to fructose.

And the UCLA researchers who have studied the effects of fructose say that the omega-3 fat docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish and fish oil also can reverse a portion of the harmful brain changes linked to fructose.

So, if you can’t completely resist the lure of processed treats, at least wash them down with green tea. Eating fish at least once or twice a week – or taking fish oil supplements – can’t hurt either.