Here’s something to chew on.

Brains require nutrients from a variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, whole grains, nuts and seeds to function properly.

Even if you’re consuming these foods regularly, occasionally enjoying a cheat-day treat can still take a toll on the brain.

Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, studies show certain no-no foods can have a major impact on your attention span. beats_ – stock.adobe.com

Popular foods full of sodium, refined sugars and cholesterol-spiking fats have been linked to a host of negative health effects .

Not only can ultra-processed foods (UPFs) mess with your memory , be alarmingly addictive and raise the risk of dementia , they can also affect attention span.

Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring , a new study reviewed the diets and cognitive health of more than 2,100 Australian dementia-free adults between the ages of 40 and 70.

Higher consumption of UPFs was linked to a significant and distinct drop in…