Food is medicine, or it's poison. Knowing what to eat and having the discipline to stick to the plan are usually the biggest game-changers for improving the health of both your body and your brain. In this video, Dr. Amen shares his 11 simple food rules you can begin implementing in your life today to optimize your health and be your best. In 2020, The BMJ published a study exploring the role diet and nutrition play in mental health, with the lead authors stating, "Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood, and improving diet may help to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of the population." In other words, food matters for mental health. Unfortunately, a number of foods and food ingredients, common in the standard American diet, are toxic to mental health. They can harm your brain and put you at increased risk for brain and mental health conditions such as depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, and dementia. Awareness of the following toxic foods can help you to avoid what increases mental health problems and choose brain-healthy foods instead.