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.

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Your liver is responsible for a variety of functions. Here is a quick overview:

Nutrient and food processing:

Our livers help us process the foods we consume, making it so our bodies can extrapolate and utilize the nutrients from the foods we eat. This organ is essential for helping us procure the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from our diet. The liver also produces bile, which helps us digest foods, particularly fats, which the bile emulsifies, making it possible for them to be absorbed by the intestines.

Detoxification:

Possibly one of the liver’s most well-known functions, detoxification is crucial for maintaining a healthy body. Harmful toxins and substances can enter the body in various ways, and it is the liver’s job to convert these undesirable substances into compounds that are less harmful to the body or water-soluble compounds that can be quickly expelled from the body as waste. The immune system also helps the body’s immune system by helping remove bacteria from the blood system.

A storehouse for nutrients

Our bodies don’t just use what we give them and expel the rest immediately. It stores nutrients and fats from our meals to use in case we need them later. The liver serves as a storehouse for vital vitamins and minerals such as iron, copper, vitamin A, B12, and vitamin D.

Blood regulation

If you remember high school health class, you may recall that the bone marrow is responsible for blood production in the body, but did you know that the liver plays a role in your blood regulation? This is done by regulating blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. As needed, the liver will release glucose into the blood or store it as glycogen for later use. Your liver also synthesizes proteins, such as albumin, which is crucial in maintaining blood blame and transporting hormones and vitamins.

Simply put, the liver has a vital function as it relates to our body and its overall health, and while you can survive with only a relatively small portion of your liver, you still need it. It will behoove you to keep it as healthy as possible so it can keep working to keep you healthy. Now that we know what the liver does, let’s go over a few ways you can inadvertently damage it and some ways you can keep it healthy.

Like most things centered around body health, a balanced diet, and optimal water intake are important. A fresh rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins will help keep your liver running optimally while providing much of the crucial building blocks it needs to maintain its role as a nutrient storehouse; additionally, proper hydration will help keep it  running smoothly.

Many common things you hear to maintain overall health apply perfectly well to maintaining liver health. Exercise and engaging in regular physical activity will improve circulation and aid in helping you maintain strength and a healthy body weight. All these things can go a long way to helping keep you healthy. Additionally, avoiding excessive drinking and smoking and managing your medications will prevent organ damage. Chances are, you know much of this already. By avoiding stress, attending regular check-ups, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can tremendously improve your health.

Now, lets talk about what BSO Honey can do for your liver.

BSO Honey, or Black Seed Oil Infused Honey, is a proprietary blend of organic cold-pressed black seed oil, raw apple cider vinegar with “the mother,” and raw, natural, locally sourced honey. Here is how each of these ingredients impacts your health. 

1. Organic Cold-Pressed Black Seed Oil: Nigella sativa plant seeds are pressed to make black seed oil. The active ingredient in this oil, thymoquinone, is the main reason for the incredible reputation black seed oil holds. This is how the liver could be affected:

Liver Health: Research indicates that black seed oil may have hepatoprotective qualities. It could aid in shielding the liver from oxidative stress and toxic damage.

Anti-Inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory qualities of black seed oil may help lessen inflammation, which is advantageous for the liver’s health.

2. Natural Raw Honey: Bees use floral nectar to create natural raw honey, a tasty material. It offers several possible health advantages, and because of its nutritional qualities, it mostly has an indirect effect on the liver:

Nutritional Support: Various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in raw honey promote general health. These nutrients indirectly aid the maintenance of liver function.

Detoxification: Honey can help the liver break down and eliminate toxins, supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar with “The Mother”: This type of vinegar, which is unpasteurized and unfiltered, contains strands of enzymes, proteins, and good bacteria. Here are some possible liver effects:

Detoxification: It’s thought that ACV aids in detoxification by removing toxins from the body. It might help with the detoxification process, which would boost liver function indirectly.

Blood Sugar Control: According to some studies, ACV may aid in controlling blood sugar levels, which is advantageous for persons who have diabetes or are at risk of developing fatty liver disease.

Weight control: Since extra body fat can aggravate liver problems, keeping a healthy weight is crucial for liver health. ACV may help with weight management.

The liver is a fantastic organ essential to preserving our general health. Numerous fundamental processes, including detoxification and metabolism, are under its control. Adopting a lifestyle that promotes the health of your liver is essential. This entails eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, drinking moderate alcohol, and abstaining from destructive behaviors. It’s also critical to get regular check-ups and be informed about what might damage the liver. Take good care of your liver because it works diligently to keep you healthy, and remember that it contributes to your overall health.

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A couple of weeks ago, two friends of mine were on a construction job that involved mixing and pouring concrete. Each bag of concrete weighed about 80 pounds, and they had to use approximately 12 bags or so to get the concrete they needed. It was a scorching summer day, but they pushed through and finished the job. As they wrapped things up and headed home for the day, the younger of two workers started wheezing. Having worked in construction for a number of years, the older of the two immediately recognized the symptoms; the dust from poring the concrete for mixing was irritating their lungs and airways.

The dangers of concrete dust:

Even if you haven’t inhaled concrete dust before, you’ve probably experienced some sort of lung irritant at some point in your life, so you’ll likely be able to sympathize a little with what I’m about to say next.
Concrete dust contains particulates such as cement, sand, gravel, and a few other things that, when inhaled, can be dangerous to your health.

Respiratory irritation: As you might imagine, fine abrasive sediments like sand and gravel can irritate the airways and lungs, leading to things like coughing, sneezing, and inflammation. We have these responses because our body recognizes that something is inside of it that isn’t supposed to be there. So in an effort to expel the foreign substance, an immune response is triggered, leading to these uncomfortable (albeit well-intended) symptoms.

Silica inhalation: Silica is a constituent of concrete dust. If you’ve ever taken geology, you may recall that silica is commonly found in quartz. When inhaled, silica particles have been known to cause a condition known as Silicosis, a severe lung disease that can cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs. This condition is irreversible and can be fatal.

Pneumonia and Bronchitis: It may come as no surprise that the particulates of concrete dust can lead to complications such as these. The fact of the matter is that the inhalation of concrete sediments will increase your risk of developing life-altering and potentially life-threatening complications. The risk of developing complications such as these is exacerbated if the dust is contaminated.

Lung cancer: Oftentimes, lung cancer is associated with smoking; however, other things can increase the likelihood of developing lung cancer. Prolonged exposure to air contaminants, such as silica in concrete dust, has been linked to an increased risk of the development of lung cancer.

Asthma: chances are you know at least one person with asthma. Contaminants in the air can exacerbate this condition, triggering an asthma attack or even worsening it.

COPD: COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult. COPD can develop after long-term exposure to concrete dust.

The complications associated with inhaling concrete dust are not just limited to the lungs. Some studies suggest that long-term exposure to concrete dust can impact your heart, leading to cardiovascular complications.

What happened next?

The older of the two construction workers had some BSO Honey on hand, so he took some and encouraged his co-worker to do the same. They each took two doses of the supplement. The swelling and irritation subsided significantly within a few minutes after taking the first dose. This made it significantly easier for them to cough up the sediments and clear their lungs (not to mention breathe). By the next day, they were as good as new, without a single cough or sniffle heard the entire day.

This outcome was a far cry from what the older construction worker had experienced in the past when working with concrete. I asked him about this, and he mentioned that he would get a lung infection every time he had to mix concrete before he started using BSO Honey. And after researching the danders of concrete dust, it’s easy to see why. The infections he used to get were so bad he would often have to go to the dosages to get a steroid and an antibiotic to help the infections go away. As you might expect, this process took several days, meaning he was sick for quite a while after these jobs.

Prevention

Naturally, in environments with compromised air quality, a mask of some sort can help filter out harmful constituents making the air a bit safer to breathe. You’ll also want to wear eye protection and gloves if you work with and are exposed to concrete dust. It is important to follow all safety precautions in your field of work.

How BSO Honey helped

We’ve talked about inflammation extensively over these blogs, but just as a quick refresher, inflammation is the #1 cause of illnesses and deaths. Many conditions, pains, and health complications can be traced back to inflammation. So it stands to reason that if you can reduce inflammation, you can improve your overall health and quality of life. Inflammation is usually the result of an immune system response to harmful stimuli like a virus, bacteria, damaged cells, radiation, or in this case, concrete dust. At its core, inflammation serves to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, gets rid of damaged cells, prevents the spread of damaged or affected cells, and start repairing damaged tissue. For as powerful a healing process as this can be, too much inflammation or chronic inflammation) can be a double-edged sword. Swelling very often can restrict blood flow, meaning affected cells in the area cannot get the proper nutrients they need, in turn slowing or halting growth and healing processes. Additionally, swelling can make it more difficult for the body to expel harmful foreign substances. Take, for example, you have concrete dust in your lungs. Your body responds by creating phlegm surrounding the foreign body and helping you cough it back up. However, if you also have inflammation in your lungs and airways, the restriction will make it more difficult for you to expel the phlegm. This means that the foreign body that triggered the inflammation in the first place stays in your body longer, keeping your immune system on high alert and your body inflamed.

BSO Honey is an all-natural liquid supplement that reduces inflammation in the body. When taken regularly, you can boost your immune system, dramatically reduce aches and pain, and, as in the case of the construction workers in our store, recover (and help prevent illnesses) from foreign substances entering your lungs and airways.

Improve your life and overall health one tablespoon at a time. Visit our online store to get started today.

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