What is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a type of cognitive dysfunction that can involve:
- Memory problems
- Lack of mental clarity
- Poor concentration
- Inability to focus
Brain fog is not a medical condition as such, more of a term that is regularly used to describe a person's reduction in the ability to think and complete everyday tasks that would otherwise be done in autopilot.
What is likely to cause it and how to get rid of brain fog?
Many things can increase the chances of brain fog, some of the common ones are listed below:
Stress
Stress is a huge contributor to causing mental fatigue. Then your brain gets tired - it is much harder to think and focus. Some simple yet effective tips to reduce stress include, exercising, reduce caffeine intake, laughing, practicing mindfulness, deep breathing.
Lack of Sleep
If you do not get enough sleep (or enough quality of sleep), this can play a large part in brain fog. For more tips on sleep check out our blog 'Hydration & Sleep' for some top tips to improve the amount of sleep and the quality of sleep you get.
Dehydration
Like with your muscles, your brain gets less blood circulation when you are dehydrated. This means your brain has to work harder than normal to complete a task. Dehydration has huge effects on cognitive function and can make even the most simple tasks challenging. Ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration
Diet
Diet can play a huge role in brain fog. It is recommended that we consume a balanced and varied diet including lots of fruit and vegetables, high fibre, starchy foods, some dairy (or dairy alternatives such as soya) and sources of protein. Vitamin B12 also supports healthy brain function and deficiencies in B12 can be linked to brain fog! Try and avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine intake.
Hormones
Hormones can have a big part to play with brain fog, particularly in the days leading up to periods and pregnancy as well as when the body goes through puberty
Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions can increase the chanced of brain fog, these can include (but are not limited to):
Depression, migraines, dehydration, diabetes and more. Always speak to your doctor if you feel medical conditions are giving you, or making brain fog worse.
Medications
Some medications can increase brain fog. If you feel brain fog is being caused by medication, it is well worth a conversation with your doctor to see if there are alternatives to reduce your symptoms.
Do you feel you suffer from brain fog? What would your top tips be to reduce brain fog?
