3 foods a neurologist won’t eat because of toxins and parasites

Talk about a no-brainer.

There are several foods you can eat for better brain health, such as fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, berries, tomatoes and coffee.

These nutrient powerhouses provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats crucial for optimal brain function and cognitive health.

There are also some foods you should steer clear of because they can cause some pretty terrifying neurological damage — or even death.

In a viral TikTok, neurologist Baibing Chen reveals three foods that he tries to avoid because they may harbor toxins and nasty bugs.

Certain tropical reef fish

“I like eating fish, but I try to avoid eating large tropical reef fish like barracuda, grouper and amberjack because of a neurotoxin called ciguatoxin,” said Chen, who goes by Dr. Bing online.

The toxin originates in coral reef algae and builds up in predatory fish over time.

He’s personally seen cases of ciguatoxin poisoning, which — in addition to being easy to misdiagnose— seems to come with a real buffet of weird symptoms.

“The neurological symptoms can include cold [feelings that turn] burning hot, tingling, dizziness and recurring nightmares,” he said, adding that some people even develop chronic nerve issues.

The best part? Cooking the slippery suckers won’t save you.

“Ciguatoxin is heat-stable, so no matter how well you cook the fish, it won’t destroy the toxin,” he said.

Chen couches all of this by explaining that you don’t need to avoid eating fish altogether, but you might want to stay away from large predatory fish, particularly their liver or roe, and stay informed on any diseases circulating in your area.

Damaged tin cans

If you’ve ever picked up a tin can and put it back because it looked like it had just gotten out of a street fight — your instincts were right.

“If a can is bulging, cracked or severely dented, that’s a red flag for botulinum contamination,” Chen warned.

“This bacterium produces botulinum toxin, which is one of the most potent neurotoxins that we know.”

Even a tiny amount can block your brain’s ability to tell your muscles to move.

“The result is flaccid paralysis, blurred vision, respiratory failure and, without antitoxin, it can be deadly.”

Not nightmarish enough?

“What’s scary is that botulinum toxin is odorless and tasteless, so you can’t tell by looking or smelling. And heating the food may not be enough to fully neutralize it,” Chen said.

“So, when in doubt, throw it out.’

Undercooked pork

This should be an obvious one.

Eating undercooked pork — especially from unregulated sources that may not be subject to the same hygiene standards and control measures as commercially produced pork — puts you at risk for all sorts of parasitic infections.

The worst of them is neurocysticercosis — a parasitic infection caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs that can lodge themselves in the brain.

“Little-known fact is that it’s actually one of the leading causes of acquired epilepsy worldwide,” Chen shared.

And it’s not the sort of thing that you can only pick up while on vacation.

“It’s not just in developing countries, but can also be seen in developed countries in areas with poor sanitation,” he added.

Watch out, NYC.