From Foggy to Focused: How to Identify and Overcome Brain Fog Symptoms Naturally

What is Brain Fog? 

If you haven’t yet experienced the sensation of “brain fog,” then consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Most adults have experienced this at one time or another, if not chronically, throughout their lives. Brain fog is the inability to focus and think clearly. You feel like you’re in a mental fog. 

Brain Fog Symptoms 

Do you experience any of the following symptoms? 

• Difficulty concentrating at work or performing basic tasks 
• Trouble remembering people’s names or simple words 
• Feeling like you’ve lost parts of your memory 
• Wondering if you might have the onset of Alzheimer’s 
• Feeling like you’re in a fog and a state of confusion 
• Decreased mental sharpness 
• Unable to focus 
• Short-term memory loss 
• Feeling depressed 
• Feeling like you are losing your mind 

Never fear – when you can pinpoint the underlying cause of your brain fog and memory loss, there is something you can do about it. 

10 Common Causes of Brain Fog and Memory Loss 

1. Hormone Deficiencies 

Thyroid Hormone 

Because the brain uses so much energy, individuals with hypothyroidism (slowed metabolism and less energy) tend to experience a decline in their mental sharpness –which is the “brain fog” that so many patients describe when diagnosed. It becomes difficult to maintain focus, sharp memory, and clarity. Low thyroid function is a common cause of brain fog, depression (1), difficulty concentrating, and short-term memory loss. 

Hypothyroidism is often associated with mood disturbances and cognitive impairment, implying that thyroid hormones are critical for normal brain functioning. Hypothyroidism has been associated with several cognitive deficits, including general intelligence, psychomotor speed, visual-spatial skills, and memory (2).  

Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone 

These hormones act directly on nerve cells in the brain, protecting those cells from attack by neurotoxins and free radicals. They enhance the blood flow of the brain, thus protecting against memory loss, cognition, and the progression of dementia. Progesterone has a protective effect on the brain by reducing swelling and improving mental clarity after a traumatic brain injury. 

Estrogen replacement therapy is associated with improved nonverbal memory and attention (3). Estrogen and progesterone have a strong effect on memory and improve memory retention (4). The addition of testosterone to estrogen replacement exerts a protective effect on memory performance in postmenopausal women (5). Testosterone levels moderate cognitive functioning performance in males (6).  

2. Lack of Sleep/Poor Sleep 

Lack of sleep and poor-quality sleep leave you tired, and therefore your brain is also tired. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Easier said than done? Click here for some tips to help you sleep better. 

3. Candida 

Your gut health affects your brain health. Candida overgrowth, or yeast overgrowth, can cause an inability to concentrate, brain fog, headaches, depression, and anxiety. If you have a leaky gut, then the 180 toxins produced by Candida can travel to the rest of your body through your bloodstream, affecting your different tissues and organs, including your brain. 

4. Poor Diet 

It is important to clean up your diet and eat organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, and nuts. Vegetables, for instance, are full of antioxidants and vitamins that fight oxidative stress and help prevent brain damage. Be sure to eat enough protein and healthy fats. Eating processed and packaged, sugar-laden foods is not healthy and only contributes to inflammation, not to mention the fact that your body, and brain, aren’t getting the nutrients they need to function well. 

5. Allergies and Food Sensitivities 

Inflammation and swelling caused by allergies and food sensitivities can affect the brain, causing symptoms throughout the body, including headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, and memory problems. 

6. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies 

Besides eating a healthy diet, here are a few important vitamins that are important for brain and memory support: 

• Fish Oil – Fish oil supports the body’s natural inflammatory response. Omega-3’s help improve brain function and helps to support memory. 
• 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) – 5-HTP is a naturally occurring compound, extracted from the seed of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia), that plays a role in the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation, sleep, and other physiological functions. 
• Ginkgo Biloba – Ginkgo Biloba provides antioxidant properties that help protect the brain and support memory. You can find this in Physicians Preference Vitamins Cognitive Support. 
• GABA – GABA helps regulate brain and nerve cell activity and helps you to focus. 
• B Vitamins – A good B vitamin complex promotes nerve health and optimal brain function. 

Have questions about vitamin and mineral supplementation?  Contact one of our Certified Nutritionists and Vitamin Specialists at Physicians Preference Vitamins at 281-646-1659. 

7. Prescription Drugs 

Numerous prescription drugs negatively affect your brain function, here are a few: 

8. Smoking 

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen to the brain, which can impair your memory. It is also noted that smoking can shrink a critical part of your brain – your cortex. Your cortex is the outer layer of your brain, and it naturally thins as you age, but smoking accelerates this. 

9. Physical Inactivity 

Regular physical exercise helps keep your brain sharp and protects your memory. Exercise also improves mood, sleep, and reduces stress, which can help improve brain function. 

10. Artificial Sweeteners 

Think twice before reaching for the yellow or blue sweetener packets at the dinner table. Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose (Splenda) and Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) can have devastating effects on your brain, as well as your overall health. 

Splenda can cause a spaced-out sensation, brain fog, depression, migraines, headaches, seizures, dizziness, and anxiety. Aspartame is a neurotoxin that destroys brain cells. Forty percent of aspartame broken down in the digestive tract is aspartic acid, a known “excitotoxin” that excites brain cells, literally to death. It causes problems such as epileptic seizures, headaches, migraines, dizziness, unsteadiness, confusion, memory loss, severe drowsiness and sleepiness, severe slurring of speech, severe hyperactivity, and severe tremors. 

​We Can Help 

Take the Hotze Health & Wellness Center symptom checker, which is an assessment to find out if you have symptoms of hormone decline, allergies, or yeast overgrowth. We believe that you deserve to have a doctor and a team of professionals to coach you onto a path of health and wellness, naturally, without the use of pharmaceutical drugs, so that you can enjoy a life-changing health transformation. Call today for a complimentary wellness consultation at 281-698-8698. It will be our privilege to serve you!