While advancements in technology and the convenience of processed foods have simplified many aspects of daily life, they also come with unintended consequences for our cognitive health. These modern comforts, along with countless other examples, can have subtle but significant impacts on our brains, potentially diminishing our mental sharpness. This article explores a list of common habits and everyday factors that may be negatively affecting our cognitive abilities.
Consuming Processed Food
Bayside Psychotherapy writes, “Ultra-processed, sugary junk foods can cause inflammation in the brain and raise your risk of developing neurodegenerative and other chronic health conditions.” Not only does processed food affect our brain health, but it can also cause us to crave more fatty foods.
Excessive Television Watching
Watching too much TV can cause us to have less focus on what’s going on around us. It weakens our cognitive processes because we don’t need much brain power to do the activity. It’s recommended to balance watching TV with reading, as this will keep our brains functioning.
Staying Up Late
Being a night owl can have negative effects on your brain. Sleep deprivation impairs our attention and memory. It’s important to try our best to get eight hours of sleep each night to ensure our brain functions correctly. Always try to prioritize sleep over late-night activities.
Avoiding Stress-Relieving Activities
Cortisol is a hormone our body releases when it’s feeling stressed and too much of it can have negative effects on our brain. This hormone can affect our memory functions and neuronal health. If you find yourself becoming too stressed, try yoga or meditation to help reduce it.
High Sugar Intake
Constantly eating too much sugar can impair memory and learning abilities. A sugar rush can also lead to decreased brain functioning, which means it’s always best to ensure that your diet is well-balanced. Try to include brain-loving supplements such as omega 3 to improve how your mind functions.
Multitasking with Social Media
Social media can be one of the biggest distractions. It stops our mind from focusing on important tasks and this means we lose concentration. You may find that it takes longer to complete tasks, so you should only focus on one thing at a time.
Poor Ventilation and Lighting
Dim and stuffy environments are bad for brain health. This is supported by the Economic Times, which writes, “A new study shows that poor indoor air quality is associated with subtle impairments in a number of cognitive functions, including our ability to concentrate and process information.”
Technology Dependence
Overusing devices can have an effect on how well we remember things. Even using search engines can have an impact on how well we recall information. For the best cognitive health, we should always try to balance our use of technology by not constantly relying on it.
Lack of Physical Exercise
Exercise is the best way to increase brain health and cognitive function; without it, we can be damaging our health. Spending too much time sitting or lying down, which occurs in office jobs, can cause harm to our brains. We need physical activity to increase brain plasticity.
Over-reliance on GPS Navigation
Using GPS for everything can reduce our spatial awareness and navigation skills. It also encourages mental laziness because a computer is going to point you in the right direction instead of allowing you to work it out yourself. Using maps or learning routes can improve your cognitive function.
Consumption of Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are considered to be very bad for your brain. For example, PCRM writes, “Researchers found that higher saturated fat consumption increased the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and cognitive decline.” High intakes of these foods can also lead to lower brain performance.
Very Low-Carb Diets
Low-carb diets may be popular when it comes to losing weight, but they also have an impact on how our brains function. A low intake of carbs will result in reduced mental energy, making it harder to focus on tasks. Try to ensure you always have a balanced diet with enough carbs to support brain function.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Too much alcohol affects your brain, not only in the short term but also in the long term. Frequent heavy drinking can even lead to lasting brain damage. While many people may enjoy a drink, it’s important to keep it in moderation so that our cognitive function doesn’t decline.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough water can affect our cognitive functions. For example, News Medical writes, “Physiological symptoms of mild dehydration that affect the brain can include light-headedness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and fatigue.” Water is important for chemical balance in the brain and shouldn’t be replaced with sugary drinks.
Vitamin D Deficiency
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to confusion and indecisiveness, which can make us appear dumber. Sun exposure, which is where much of our vitamin D comes from, is also important for our mental health. If you live somewhere where the sun rarely shines (such as in the UK), you may want to try taking supplements.
Exposure to Pesticides
Toxins from pesticides can impair brain health. They affect the neurotransmitter function in our brain and gut. They’re supposed to have a greater effect on children than on adults. An accumulation of these toxins over time can have a serious effect on our cognitive functions.
Fitness Trackers
While fitness trackers may seem like a good idea, our over-reliance on them may have an effect on our natural awareness of our body. Becoming so reliant on them can lead to reduced brain engagement when it comes to our daily activities. It’s best to only wear them when we’re participating in exercise.