Love easy to prepare canned food? It’s time to think twice because that could be your last meal. Neurologist Chen talks about three everyday food that pose risk to your brain health.
A healthy brain is crucial because it affects many aspects of our life, including how we think, act, feel and relate to others. But, similar to how other parts of our body can be harmed for various reasons, brain health can also deteriorate due to many factors like age-related, stroke, mood disorders, substance use disorder, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, as per the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Interestingly, in a recent video shared on TikTok, neurologist Dr Baibing Chen, who also serves as a professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, cautioned about certain everyday foods that could pose severe neurological risks due to their links with neurotoxins and brain parasites.
Protecting Brain Health
“When it comes to protecting brain health, most people think of eating leafy greens and omega-3-rich fish. But some foods may do more harm than good, especially when they harbour dangerous neurotoxins or brain parasites,” Chen explains.
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Reef Fish
According to Chen, large tropical reef species such as barracuda, grouper, and amberjack are known to contain ciguatoxin, a potent neurotoxin that selectively opens voltage-gated sodium channels in excitable cells, causing the human food poisoning known as Ciguatera (CFP).
He warns, “Ciguatoxin is a potent neurotoxin. No matter how well the fish is cooked, it will not be destroyed.”
The most common food poisoning signs of ciguatoxin are gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, neurological problems, and cardiovascular issues.
Canned Food
Another food category, Chen emphasises, “when in doubt, throw it out,” is canned food from damaged tins.
“These products could be contaminated with botulinum toxin,” he said. “It’s odourless and tasteless, and heating the food may not necessarily destroy it.”
Undercooked Pork
There are many fatal incidents related to undercooked pork. Chen warns of the same risk by highlighting how consuming undercooked pork may put you in danger due to the risk of contracting a parasitic infection called neurocysticercosis.
“It’s one of the leading causes of acquired epilepsy worldwide,” he stated.
Some common symptoms of neurocysticercosis are seizures, headaches, and neurological deficits.
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