Did you know? Your brain is a big eater! It alone consumes about 20% of the calories you eat during the day. As you can imagine, your eating habits play a vital role in the proper functioning of your cognitive abilities. Want to keep your mind sharp and alert throughout your life? Pay attention to what you eat! Here is a list of 12 foods that are bad for your memory and brain that you should avoid at all costs.

1  Alcohol

Here is the number 1 enemy that you must be wary of alcohol. Indeed, alcohol has diuretic and dehydrating properties that harm the proper functioning of neurons. In addition, regular alcohol consumption promotes the appearance of neurovegetative diseases, memory disorders, or even epilepsy.

2  Coffee

As you probably know, coffee is a stimulant. Also, excessive caffeine consumption promotes nervousness, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It even has negative effects on mood regulation or motivation. Finally, coffee has diuretic properties, which can have a certain impact on brain functions.

3  Sugar, in all its forms

It's a fact! Too much sugar is bad for your brain. According to specialists, high blood glucose levels could cause memory loss. Want to reduce your sugar intake to take care of your health? Be wary of industrial products, because they often contain hidden sugars... Also, crack fructose. It is found in many sodas and some processed foods.

4  Meat

Do you like red meat? Sadly, you're going to have to cut back if you want to preserve your brain because this food is not good for memory. According to researchers at Boston University in the United States, people who eat beef at every meal have more cognitive difficulties than vegetarians.

As you will have understood, to be alert and in good health, you must reduce your consumption of red meat by limiting yourself to 2 steaks per week.

5  Fast food

It's proven! Excess "junk food" significantly alters the balance of cognitive functions. According to specialists from the University of California in the United States, consuming processed foods rich in saturated fats could reduce the activity of synapses.

That's not all! Fast food also impairs people's memory and learning abilities. In addition, the additives and chemicals in this diet can, in some cases, cause hyperactivity-type behavioral disorders.

6  Charcuterie

Want to keep your wits about you? Limit your consumption of processed meats! Can you find out why? It's simple! Processed meats contain a lot of salt and a large amount of saturated fats, 2 elements that significantly reduce the balance of brain functions. Excessive salt reduces attention and memory skills, while fat accumulates on the walls of the arteries and reduces blood flow.

7  Food that is too salty

As you know, salt is the enemy of your health. It promotes high blood pressure, the onset of cardiovascular diseases, and water retention. That's not all! Excess salt reduces cognitive functions. As you will have understood, to experience your best life, you must monitor the amount of salt in your diet.

8  Margarine

It's a fact! Margarine contains a lot of trans fats, which are bad for your health. Want to know why? Trans fats alter intracellular communication by making brain membranes more rigid.

9  Cheese

Here's another food that's bad for your memory and brain. Just like margarine, cheese is high in processed fatty acids that impair cognitive function by freezing the brain's membranes.

In short, to keep your mind sharp throughout life, you should consume cheese in moderation.

10  Refined grains

According to some scientists, excessive consumption of refined grains could hurt the proper functioning of the brain. In the long run, eating too much white flour, for example, could lead to memory loss and even mental confusion...

11  Processed industrial meals

Industrial food has its practical sides when you are short on time. However, it is not good for your health. As you know, it contains too much fat and too much salt. It is also full of additives, preservatives, or colorings that have a more or less significant impact on the functioning of the nervous system.

That's not all! Light or low-calorie products are full of sweeteners, synthetic substances that we would do better to do without... According to some studies, they could reduce cognitive abilities in the event of intensive and prolonged use. As you will have understood, to be happy and healthy, prepare yourself a good little "homemade" dish.

12  Oily fish

To conclude this article, there is another type of food that is bad for memory and the brain: fatty fish, such as tuna or swordfish. You may wonder why. Larger fish store pollutants in their fat. For example, mercury is found there, a substance that is harmful to the brain.