Natural Solutions for Brain Fog

Do you struggle with brain fog?

Brain fog, or mental fatigue, can be a scary feeling and hindrance to daily life. Symptoms of brain fog include difficulty focusing, slow thinking, low energy, mental fatigue, and difficulty finding words. Brain fog can affect the ability to recall memories, remember tasks, and even names. Some say that their brain fog feels hazy, fuzzy, or as if they are in a cloud. 

Brain fog is a symptom that can be caused by a number of different reasons. It is important to work with a naturopathic doctor in order to investigate the root cause of your brain fog and to properly manage it. Things like environmental toxicities, previous illness, chronic infections, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, nervous system dysregulation, neurological disorders, and other conditions may all present with brain fog as a symptom. While investigating the root cause with a doctor, below are some potential solutions to brain fog that may be worth trying: 

CoQ10 

CoQ10 is an essential cofactor that takes part in the body’s energy metabolism and is an important antioxidant within the cell membranes of lipids and mitochondria. CoQ10 supports healthy mitochondrial function, which is necessary for proper brain functioning and cognition. If mitochondrial dysfunction is a component of one’s brain fog, supplementing with CoQ10 may be beneficial. 

Ginkgo biloba 

Ginkgo is a well-known herb utilized in Traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism for its ability to support cognition and overall brain health. It’s one of the most heavily researched herbs for its cognitive benefits. Potential benefits of ginkgo include that it may promote mental clarity, promote focus and  concentration, reduce anxiety, and even halt age-related cognitive decline. 

Lion’s Mane 

This mushroom is popular for its brain and nerve-supporting abilities. It is considered to be neurotrophic, which means that it promotes the growth of nervous tissue. It does this by promoting the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which is important for our brain’s neuronal maintenance, growth, and development.

Grounding & nature 

Being cooped up inside all day is harmful to our circadian rhythm and can contribute to brain fog. Getting outside and connecting with the earth can reduce inflammation and regulate the circadian rhythm, leading to improved mental clarity. 

Multivitamin or Beef Liver 

Nutrient deficiencies can negatively impact cognition and cause symptoms of brain fog. It’s important to get in the necessary vitamins and minerals from your diet, but if not able to do so, supplementing with a multivitamin or beef liver can be beneficial. 

Remove gluten and/or sugar from diet 

Food sensitivities can lead to systemic inflammation and contribute to neurological symptoms, like brain fog. Identification of food sensitivity and eliminating it from the diet can positively impact cognition and may lift the brain fog. 

Drink water with electrolytes 

Dehydration and deficiencies in electrolytes can lead to cognitive impairments and may create brain fog. Making sure to drink adequate amounts of water with electrolytes may help provide mental clarity. 

Get restful sleep

Poor sleep can be a huge contributor to decreased mental performance, as this time is essential for the brain to recover and regenerate. Make sure to support sleep with proper sleep hygiene and by getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep for men and 8-10 hours for women. 

Reduce stress 

High cortisol levels and being in a constant state of fight-or-flight can worsen cognition and lead to symptoms of brain fog. If highly stressed, this may be a large contributor. Work on reducing your stress, and ultimately cortisol levels with practices like meditation, breath work, tapping, yoga, etc.

If you experience brain fog and want to get to the root cause, schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me to determine the best course of action.