Let me set an all too familiar stage. It’s 3PM, you have hours until your day is over, the to-do list is long, dinner needs to be made, kids require their taxi service and other S&*T needs to get done! The problem is that you seriously want to take a nap, grab a Snickers bar or zone out to Instagram stories.
Brain fog is a serious issue that most of my clients complain of during a session. So what is brain fog, really, and can we do anything about it? Individuals suffering from brain fog feel like they’re living in a daze and are barely keeping their heads above water. The brain may feel like it’s working at a lower gear. They find it hard to work, engage, and live in the moment when their head is in this omnipresent cloud. In conventional medical establishments, brain fog is not typically addressed since there are no obvious medications to treat it.
What Causes Brain Fog?
According to WebMd, the typical causes of brain fog include cancer treatment, pregnancy, MS, menopause, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, and lack of sleep. Then why do I see it nearly every day in people with none of those explanations? In my opinion,* what I am seeing is the result of inflammatory diets that Include items like sugar, processed foods, gluten, and dairy. In the functional medicine world, other possible culprits include thyroid/adrenal issues, infections such as Epstein Barr Virus, Candida overgrowth, toxicity and more.
I’m not going to give away all of my nutritional secrets, but the below tips are a good place to start when dealing with brain fog.
5 Tips to Help Beat Brain Fog
Stable blood sugar
The chronic insulin roller-coaster most of us ride on a day to day basis means with the highs, also come the lows. Controlling insulin section by eating a whole foods paleo/plant based diet ensures my blood sugar stays in check which in turns leads to more stable energy. This is why I always begin my day with protein, fat and fiber.
Consuming an anti-inflammatory diet
My day to day diet is free of top inflammation producers like processed foods, sugar, gluten, and cow dairy. These foods lead to free radicals which contribute to cellular inflammation. I also try to combat this oxidative cellular stress that might occur with foods high in antioxidants (see #3).
A near daily 3PM matcha latte habit
Most close to me know that I rarely go a day without a homemade almond milk matcha latte in the afternoon. Not only is matcha one of the highest ORAC foods around (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) it also has a bit of energy stabilizing caffeine. I also doctor up my latte with Bulletproof MCT oil, Vital Proteins collagen, and Four Sigmatic lions mane mushroom extract. All of these are fantastic forms of natural fuel. MCT and lions mane I consider nootropics, or “food” for the brain.
Consistent movement preferably outdoors
Movement assists your lymphatic and cardiovascular systems, creating energy and bringing in oxygen. A bonus in my book is if you move outside. The great outdoors provides the most bioavailable source of vitamin D, which may be impaired in the case of brain fog. The sun also provides you with infrared light helping with immune support and inflammation.
Detoxification
Toxic foods, heavy metals, mold, pollutants, pesticides, etc. can all build up in our bodies and contribute to brain fog, according to functional medicine experts. This is one of the main reasons I firmly stick to my biannual detox program. I also look to support detoxification pathways with all the tips/tricks I talk about as part of those detox programs. Oh, and by the way, toxins are stored in FAT cells, which is why I have individuals who have lost over 10 pounds in 5 days doing my program.
While everyone is different and the above may not be enough for someone suffering from a serious health condition, every little bit helps. Incorporating the above into your lifestyle will go a long way in helping you to beat brain fog.
Cheers to your health! XDeeDee
*My personal hypothesis has yet to undergo a double-blind placebo based study so take it for what it is worth.
