Suffering from brain fog? It’s likely being triggered by one of these TOP 9 root causes:
Having imbalanced thyroid hormones can set you up for an inflammatory-immune response which can induce inflammation in the brain, eventually leading to brain fog.
Adrenal exhaustion can occur when your adrenal-based circadian rhythm is disrupted, causing the stress hormone cortisol rise. Because of the brain-hormone relationship, brain fog can be both a cause and a symptom of adrenal fatigue.
One of the many problems that viral infections cause is blocking the body’s vitamin D receptors. This means you’ll be unable to use the vitamin D you consume, and low vitamin D levels have been linked to brain fog.
Having leaky gut syndrome raises your risk of developing leaky brain syndrome. With leaky gut, the increase in gut bacterial toxins has been proven to alter levels of brain inflammation.
An overgrowth of yeast in the microbiome, particularly yeasts of the candida genus, raises inflammatory cells which can lead to excessive inflammation in the body and brain.
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body fails to effectively break down the immune cell histamine or overreacts to its presence, resulting in the production of superoxide – a dangerous free radical that causes a lot of inflammatory damage to the brain.
Sleep deprivation reduces the anti-inflammatory antioxidant glutathione, increasing oxidative stress in certain parts of the brain which ultimately can result in brain fog.
Methylation is a biological process that’s essential for the health and purification of your organs, including your brain. Many people have genetic methylation abnormalities that obstruct this detoxification process, increasing the chance of systemic inflammation.
Mitochondria are cell organelles that provide a majority of the chemical energy required to fuel your cell’s metabolic activities. However, because the mitochondrial genome is exposed to oxidative stress through lifestyle and environmental factors, we tend to notice a steady reduction in the health of the mitochondrial genome as we age. Brain fog and excessive fatigue are common symptoms in practically every chronic disease that’s associated with decreased mitochondrial function.
So now what can you do about your brain fog?
The number one step is to work with a functional medicine practitioner to overcome the above root causes.
In the meantime, you can implement these 7 lifestyle changes to begin supporting your brain at home.
Reduce inflammation.
Inflammation is at the root of all disease. There are a variety of natural approaches to reduce your inflammation levels, including spices such as turmeric, and replacing inflammatory foods with nutrient-dense alternatives.
Heal your gut.
Your gut and brain are intrinsically linked. Introduce bone broth and probiotic-rich fermented foods into your diet – they will feed your microbiome with healthy bacteria to start your healing journey.
Try herbs.
The central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord) can be brought back into balance by adaptogenic herbs. Holy basil is especially good for brain fog since it can improve cognitive function.
Get enough vitamin D.
Low levels of vitamin D can raise your risk of a poor memory and brain fog. The most bioavailable source is sunlight, but if you live somewhere with harsh winters make sure you’re eating foods such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel and supplementing as needed.
Avoid toxins as best you can.
This includes eating organic, using natural personal care products, and using plants as medicine. These tips will also aid you in healing your gut.
Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Our mental clarity depends on how well we sleep. If you’re missing out on all important 💤‘s, you might find your brain feeling cloudy the next day as oxidative stress will have increased in the hypothalamus region.
Supplement with essential nutrients
B Vitamins
B vitamins are essential for methylation (an important biological process involving your genes), thus consuming activated B vitamins like B9 L-Methylfolate (L-5-MTHF) and B6 Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (P5P) can help.
B vitamins aid in the production of neurotransmitters which function as chemical messengers and allow the brain to interact with other neurons throughout the body. B vitamins are also necessary for energy generation, so if you’re feeling tired, it’s possible you’re deficient. Food sources of B-vitamins include:
My favorite B-complex supplement is Methyl B Complex
Omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3’s are ideal for brain health since they have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Cognitive decline can actually form as a result of elevated levels of inflammation, so eating anti-inflammatory foods is key. You can find omega-3’s in:
My favorite high quality Omega-3 supplement is Omega 3T
Magnesium.
Magnesium is beneficial to the brain since it can promote a restful night’s sleep (key for brain health). Magnesium also improves the efficiency of our brain’s higher executive processes, allowing us to think more creatively and flexibly. Good sources of magnesium include:
My favorite form of magnesium to support the brain is Magnesium T
Probiotics.
Probiotics (aka beneficial gut bacteria) are one of the best nutrients for brain health since everything that improves the gut can also improve the brain. Studies have proven that probiotics can also enhance your mood! Foods high in probiotics include:
My favorite probiotic supplement is: Biotic Daily T
Know someone who’s been struggling with brain fog? Send this article to them!
