Is Our Brain Affected By The Food We Eat?

Introduction A common speculation someone may have is how food affects their body, but what about their brain specifically? Will eating a whole bag of chips affect our brain? We all know how having a good diet makes us healthier, however, we should think beyond that and include our brain especially since it is such a big aspect of our life. Now to answer the question of is our brain affected by the food we eat, the answer is yes it is very affected by what we eat.

What is it affected?

To begin with certain foods have different nutrients and minerals and are overall better to consume than more processed foods, sugary foods, or saltier foods. According to Harvard Health Publishing, our brain functions best when it gets premium fuel. Giving your brain premium fuel means eating less processed food as well as having a diet with less refined sugars. If we were to neglect our brain of necessary nutrients, then that would cause impairments. As stated by Harvard Health Publishing, “having a diet high in refined sugars is harmful to the brain because it can worsen your body’s regulation of insulin and promote inflammation and oxidative stress.” So what counts as refined sugars? Refined sugars are processed and can be in foods such as soda, candy, sweets, yogurt, etc. It’s important to watch your intake to make sure you are keeping your brain healthy.

Also mentioned in the article, not only can your diet affect your brain’s function, it can contribute to worse symptoms of mood disorders. As explained by Cleveland Clinic, “a mood disorder is a mental health condition that primarily affects your emotional state.” Two main types of mood disorders are depressive disorders and bipolar disorders. Similarly, having a poor diet can still affect the mood of those without a mood disorder.

Conclusion

While it may be a lesser known fact that eating healthy can help your brain, it is still very important. It is clear that it can influence your brain’s function and mood. I believe having a healthy diet is even more significant when you are a teen. There is a lot of academic pressure on teens as well as pressure for sports and that is why I think teens should be fueling themselves with food that makes them feel good throughout their busy schedule. Remember you are not alone!

Works Cited

MD, Eva Selhub. “Nutritional Psychiatry: Your Brain on Food.” Harvard Health, 18 Sept. 2022, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626. “Mood Disorders: What They Are, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 17 Sept. 2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17843-mood-disorders.