How
Can I Get Rid of Brain Fog?
Marion Hauser is quoted from The Hauser Diet: A Fresh Look at Healthy Living! in
the June 2008 issue of Delicious Living in an article titled, "How
can I get rid of brain fog?" Read
the Article!
Or read the article below:
How can i get rid of brain fog?
Interviews by Tiffany Plate
Dietitian
Brain fog is not really a medical diagnosis, but people are talking about it
more and more. You may have unclear thinking or trouble concentrating, and you
may appear somewhat confused or forgetful and even feel detached. You may feel
depressed.
Your brain consumes about 20 percent of the body's energy, and you get energy
from food. If you put the wrong fuel in your body, your body's not going to work
properly.
In general, people with brain fog should avoid sugar and sugar-containing products,
particularly sodas and sweets, but also white bread, pasta, and white rice, which
are the most common culprits related to brain fog. These ultraprocessed foods
are metabolized very quickly and cause blood sugar to spike then drop, which
naturally makes you tired [and results in brain fog].
Most people also need some sort of protein with every meal. [Because the body
absorbs it more slowly than sugar, eating protein can balance glucose response
and prevent you from crashing.] Keep some food at your desk, like nuts, sunflower
seeds, hard-boiled eggs, or natural beef jerky. Then add some carrots, celery
or green peppers, and cottage cheese. When you have good things around, you won't
be tempted to head to the vending machine when you're hungry.
— Marion Hauser, MS, RD, Caring Medical
Rehabilitation Services, Oak Park, Illinois;
co-author of The Hauser Diet (Beulah Land, 2007)
Neurologist
Among young, healthy people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, brain fog is rarely due
to just one thing — it's usually a conspiracy of several things, with stress
at the top of the list. Why? Because we're asking the brain to do more than it
has ever needed to do before.
De-stress by structuring your life in a more controlled fashion. Don't take on
too much responsibility, have better organizational skills, and try to delegate
effectively. How foggy you feel also depends on how you react to stress. At your
desk, close your eyes, and take some slow deep breaths for five minutes. Do it
a couple of times a day. Yoga, meditation, and relaxation can help, as well.
Also, most people need eight or more hours of quality sleep. If you are sleep
deprived for a day, your brain functions about as well as that of a person who
is legally drunk.
Exercise also contributes to a sharp brain. There's now some evidence that walking
at a moderate pace for 20 minutes two to three times a week can improve your
memory. Other types of exercise
— like aerobic, weight-training, and balance exercises — are
also great de-stressers that can improve brain fog in a week.
—Larry McCleary, MD, Incline Village,
Nevada; author of The Brain Trust Program
(Perigee Trade, 2007)
Integrative cardiologist
As a clinician, I'm seeing earlier-onset brain fog, and I suspect it's due to
our toxic environment — heavy metals, phthalates, insecticides, and pesticides
are everywhere. These environmental toxins are mitochondrial toxins. The mitochondria
in your cells produce adenosine triphosphate, which is the main energy source
of the body, giving you cognition, thought, and energy. When you destroy mitochondria,
you destroy the integrity of the cell, and eventually the cell dies.
So a healthy diet is important, as is awareness that your brain is very sensitive
to toxins. That's why you want to try to eat more organics. I also recommend
a supplement like acetyl-L-carnitine (1-3 grams daily), which nourishes the brain,
and coenzyme Q10 (100 mg daily), which helps increase energy.
B vitamins are an old standby for the brain, and you can take them with new supplements
like phosphatidylserine (PS, 1-2 grams daily) to beat brain fog. Another one
to try is melatonin. A recent study in which participants took 10 mg of melatonin
showed very significant improvement in Alzheimer's-type symptoms and relief from
depression, as well as better sleep. I recommend 1-10 mg of melatonin taken at
bedtime. You should see enormous improvements.
—Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, Manchester,
Connecticut; author of The Sinatra Solution
(Basic Health, 2008) |
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