Are you at a point where you are tired of being tired? Tired of not being able to focus or concentrate? Tired of feeling like you are always in a haze? Tired of not being able to think straight? Well, you may be dealing with brain fog. What is brain fog? Well, brain fog is not a medical term or a diagnosis, but a general term used to describe a variety of symptoms which are causing cognitive impairment. This would be the inability to think clearly, process information, remember things, and concentrate on simple tasks.
Have you ever felt this way? If you have, you’re not alone and I can tell you there are thousands of people out there who are dealing with this issue right now. So why is it that you can’t think straight? Well, this can be attributed to a few different things, here are a few of them:
·Stress – Stress is a something that we all experience throughout our life. However, we live in a day and age where we are constantly in a stressed-out state for a variety of reasons including work, school, relationships, finances, and even traffic. And while a little bit of stress is okay, once we get into chronic stress we begin to see a vast array of health issues.
Lack of Sleep – Sleep is one of the most underrated health and high-performance tools that we have, yet it is one that is often overlooked. Sleep plays such an important role in brain health that we begin to jeopardize brain function when we lack sleep.
Diet – The food you eat plays a significant role in how your brain functions. Consuming too many refined carbohydrates, highly processed foods, and sugar filled foods can lead to brain fog. Your brain and body can't function at an optimal level when the food you eat lacks the nutrients needed in order to thrive.
· Inflammation – Inflammation is a natural immune response by the body which is very important to maintaining health. However, one of the biggest factors which is contributing to the chronic disease epidemic is chronic inflammation. This is inflammation that never goes away. It is believed that inflammatory molecules, secreted in the brain could be contributing to the development of chronic diseases and be associated with brain fog as well.
Brain fog can take a real toll on your overall quality of life. I’ve been there and I can tell you from experience that it is not fun. Luckily, many of the factors that contribute to brain fog, are under your control. And the reality is, with a few lifestyle changes, you could be on your way to regaining and optimizing your cognitive function in no time. Believe me when I say this, once you realize how good it feels to feel good, it’s hard to go back. Try implementing some simple changes in these areas of your life. If you need help figuring out where to begin, feel free to reach out.
Erick Rivas
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
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