Heavy gray clouds; that’s what I imagine when I hear the word “fog.” Perhaps it is because of word association, but when I envision brain fog, I think of those same heavy clouds enveloping my mind. It’s a pointless thought, to be sure, but that is, at least to me, what brain fog feels like. An onset of thick clouds obscuring the vision of my mind. My ability to concentrate dwindles, and I lose sight of my next move; in the end, I’m left feeling flustered as I struggle to complete tasks. Anyone who has experienced brain fog knows how troublesome it can be. Join us as we uncover what causes brain fog and some things you can do to help reduce its effects.
What is Brain fog?
Brain fog refers to neurocognitive symptoms such as concentrating, forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty thinking. This condition can be triggered by a wide range of things, including but not limited to medical conditions, lifestyle, stress, a lack of sleep, and infections.
Some simple things that may help alleviate brain fog
Addressing brain fog can be as simple as drinking more water or as complex as adjusting your entire lifestyle; It all depends on what is causing it. First and foremost, you’ll need to uncover the cause of the condition before pinning down a truly viable treatment. For the purposes of this blog, we will be going over a few lifestyle changes that can help improve your day-to-day life and decrease the amount of brain fog you experience (provided it’s not caused by a serious medical condition).
Reduce the time you spend on your phone and computer, and make sure you take breaks.
Nowadays, we are more immersed in technology than ever. Between work and entertainment, it is not uncommon to spend hours every day staring at a screen. But how often do we consider the effects that it may have on our bodies and minds? Taking a break or even fasting from technology for a day can do wonders in helping you reset and get quality rest. Distancing yourself from technology (or rather not being constantly inundated with information) for a while can greatly help you gain more clarity in your thoughts.
Reduce your stress
Stress takes so much out of our bodies and minds, and that’s not just a cute sentiment. Stress hormones deplete vital minerals, such as zinc and magnesium, from our bodies; if not replenished, it may make dealing with the next bout of stress more difficult, leading to a vicious spiral that can have very real impacts on our health and mental state. High blood pressure, an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke, and, of course, brain fog are all consequences that can result from excess stress. There are plenty of ways to reduce your stress.
Here are a few quick stress-alleviating remedies:
- Practice taking a few long, deep breaths to help calm down
- Practice self-care
- Exercise
- Stay hydrated
- Eat nutrient-dense foods
- Get plenty of rest
To learn about how stress can impair your sleep, check out our previous blog, Rest or Wreck: The Effect of Stress on Sleep
Nutrition
Your diet can play a huge role in your cognitive function. Did you know that what you start your day with can drastically impact how you feel for the rest of the day? Eating a carbohydrate-dense meal for breakfast can make you feel tired and groggy throughout the day. However, if you start the day with something protein-dense, you’ll have more energy. Additionally, making a few changes, like limiting your sugar intake and consuming more water, will help you have more energy and feel better in your everyday life.
Get seven to eight hours of sleep daily.
We discussed this briefly earlier in the blog, but sleep is essential, and many of us need more of it. Many things can impact your sleep quality, but you can improve that dramatically by following a few simple tips:
- Limit your screen time. To help your body and mind wind down for the night, avoid looking at screens (such as computers or mobile devices) for at least 30 minutes before you go to sleep. Studies show that blue light emitted by screens primes our minds for wakefulness. Additionally, you can install a blue light filter on your phone to help reduce this effect.
- Try not to eat too close to your bedtime. Our digestive systems take a lot of work to run. By consuming food right before bed, you increase your chances of triggering heartburn at night and make it harder to fall asleep. Also, because your body is working to digest food, the quality of your sleep could be reduced. While we sleep, our body works to repair itself, and our brains release a special liquid to help flush out waste from itself; by eating right before bed, these critical processes could be neglected in favor of digesting your meal. It is advisable to stop eating at least 2 hours before you go to bed.
Exercise
You may be surprised just how much exercise can help you. Not only is it a fantastic stress relief, but it can also help you gain clarity and help you sleep better. Exercising can get your blood pulping. This blood flow can expedite the process of providing nutrients to your cells. All in all, exercise is just good for your body and mind.
How BSO Honey can help with Brain Fog
As mentioned before, there are a plethora of reasons for brain fog. Some of it is rooted in illness caused by infection, viruses, mold, and the like, while other causes can be related to lifestyle. Below is a list of a few of the most common causes of brain fog and how BSO Honey can help address those particular issues.
Please note: this is not an exhaustive list of conditions that can result in brain fog. If you have a medical concern, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your primary medical doctor.
Stressful Lifestyles: Stress may seem harmless at first, and a little stress can be an excellent source of motivation. However, chronic stress is absolutely detrimental to your health. Stress has a long wrap sheet of negative effects, including sleep problems, digestive issues, high blood pressure, sexual problems, anxiety, depression, pain, brain fog, and even an increased susceptibility to getting colds.
Adaptogenic Properties: Adaptogens are substances (such as plants or mushrooms) that can help your body respond to stress. One common adaptogen is honey. Raw Honey helps soothe the nervous system and can even provide a small energy boost.
Lack of Quality Sleep: A lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your life. Naturally, difficulties focusing and reacting to stimuli are par for the course if you’re sleep-deprived; however, it is not uncommon to experience trouble with emotional regulation, memory issues, and more.
Sleep Support: The natural sugars in raw honey can promote better sleep, which, paired with good sleep hygiene and healthy daily habits, can make all the difference in alleviating brain fog due to a lack of sleep.
Hormonal Changes: Changes in hormones can impact us in a variety of ways. Stress, diet, medications, and steroids are just a few things that can affect your hormonal state. Having an imbalance in hormones can cause fatigue, mood changes, changes in food cravings, sleep problems, and even hair loss!
Hormone Balancing Properties: some studies suggest that Black seed oil might have hormonal balancing effects, but individual responses vary.
Inflammation: Getting inflammation under control can help you drastically improve your overall health. Inflammation, particularly neuroinflammation, can result in brain fog and increase your risk of developing certain illnesses, among many other incredibly undesirable side effects.
Anti-Inflammatory properties: Both raw honey and black seed oil have anti-inflammatory properties, which, when taken regularly, can aid in reducing inflammation in the body.
Dehydration: Chances are that you are fairly familiar with many of the bodily impacts of dehydration, such as dry skin, dizziness, headaches, and decreased urination, but did you know that dehydration can impact your mental acuity as well? As little as a 2% decrease in brain hydration can cause effects such as short-term memory loss, according to fayazneurosurgery.com. Other mental symptoms that are associated with dehydration are fatigue, brain fog, depression, issues sleeping, and difficulty focusing.
Hydration Support: Raw honey can contribute to hydration in some unexpected ways. Firstly, honey helps balance electrolytes, meaning that it can help with the hydration process. Second, honey has been shown to reduce bloating, making the digestive process more comfortable. Finally, honey’s antioxidative properties reduce oxidative stress in the body, which may influence the hydration of the cells. While honey can help your body rehydrate, it’s important to still get plenty of fluids. Drinking water and eating foods that have a high concentration of water intake (such as fruits and vegetables) can go a long way in helping you get your daily water intake needs met.
Digestive issues: digestive issues can make it difficult for your body to extrapolate vital nutrients from the foods you eat. Suppose your brain, body, and cells aren’t getting what they need to function properly. In that case, you can expect to feel sluggish and tired and can potentially have issues with your cognitive function (such as having difficulty concentrating or focusing.
Digestive Support: Apple cider vinegar might support digestive health by adding beneficial bacteria to your gut biome. The beneficial bacteria can help make digesting foods easier, and with a healthy gut biome, your body can pull more nutrients from the foods you eat.
If you want to take advantage of all these incredible health benefits, consider stopping by our shop and picking up a bottle of BSO Honey at our shop.