Do you have trouble learning, remembering, and concentrating? If so, you may think there’s something seriously wrong with your mind. You’re not going crazy. More likely than not, your brain fog has a physical cause. You just need to figure out what's happening inside your body and get it cleared up.
What is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is an impairment of cognitive function. This dysfunction is usually present at all times and causes problems with memory, cognition, learning, and mental clarity. It is called brain fog because it makes you feel as though you're trying to think through thick layers of gauze.
Common Causes of Brain Fog
1. Gluten Intolerance
A person with gluten intolerance is unable to digest the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Their immune system reacts to gluten as if it were a …show more content…
viral or bacterial invader, causing inflammation not only in the intestines but in the brain, as well. When the gut and brain stay in a constant state of inflammation, brain fog is inevitable.
It doesn’t help that this protein also acts as a mild opiate to the intolerant individual, causing a feeling of disconnectedness to the outside world.
Other symptoms of gluten intolerance include:
Chronic abdominal cramping
Diarrhea
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Mood swings
Insomnia
Irritability
If you suspect you have gluten intolerance, remove all traces of it from your diet for two months. Then reintroduce wheat and gluten products at the end of that time. If you're intolerant to gluten, you'll know.
2. Neurotoxins
Another leading cause of brain fog is the hidden neurotoxins in your food and environment. A neurotoxin is any chemical that interferes with the neurons in your brain and causes cognitive dysfunction.
Let's break down the common sources into categories:
Food
If you drink a lot of soda, it could be why you’re brain is always in a fog. Soda contains aspartame, a proven and potent neurotoxin.
You might also be intolerant to food dyes in your breakfast cereal, candy, and gum. Certain food dyes such as yellow#5 have been linked to insomnia, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Environment
Even in the relative safety of your home, you are surrounded by chemical toxins that can put your brain in a fog. These chemicals include air fresheners, cleaning products, laundry detergent, and cosmetics.
The next time you clean, bathe, or apply makeup, take a good look at the ingredients in the products you’re using. Many of them contain chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); 1,4-dioxane; NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate), and phosphates that have been linked to neurological impairment.
Vaccines
Vaccines are one of the worst offenders when it comes to neurotoxins. They contain mercury, which has been scientifically proven to cause brain fog, muscle twitches, movement disorders, learning difficulties, and symptoms of mental illness.
Dental Fillings
Your dental fillings could be putting your brain in a fog.
Dental fillings are made out of mercury and can cause the same kind of mercury toxicity symptoms as a vaccine.
2. Autoimmune/Chronic Pain Conditions
Autoimmune and chronic pain conditions come standard with brain fog. Adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and other autoimmune conditions all have one thing in common: Inflammation. This, coupled with chronic physical pain can lead to some debilitating brain fog. 3. Sleep Deprivation
If you wake up feeling exhausted every morning, it might be why you're always in a fog. Just one night of poor sleep can interfere with your ability to think clearly and process sensory input. Most adults need 7-10 hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep each night.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, you might have a magnesium deficiency. Adding a chelated magnesium supplement to your diet can work wonders in helping you get some much-needed shut-eye.
4. Candida Yeast Syndrome
Candida is a natural yeast found in the vagina and digestive tract, and when it’s kept in check, it causes no
problems.
Unfortunately, excessive sugar intake, antibiotic use, and birth control can cause this yeast to grow out of control. When it does, it becomes systemic, entering into your bloodstream and causing neurological damage.
Other symptoms of candida yeast syndrome include:
Poor digestion
Chronic yeast infections
Fungal nail infections
Chronic fatigue
Unexplained rash
Unexplained muscle pain
Emotional instability
How to Learn Why You Have Brain Fog
One of the most frustrating things about foggy brain is trying to figure out what’s causing it, and doing the elimination diet and playing roulette with your cleaning products can be more daunting a task than you’re willing to undertake.
Direct Labs offers two essential tests that can help you figure out what foods and chemicals you’re allergic to and how healthy your digestive system is.
These tests are called the ALCAT Comprehensive Wellness 1-Kit and Doctor’s Data Comprehensive Stool Analysis x 3 DD Kit.
The wellness kit takes the guesswork out of discovering the cause of your chronic symptoms by doing the kind of blood analysis most conventional doctors won’t request.
The stool kit not only tells you if a bacterial or candida infection is causing your symptoms, it even evaluates for commonly-overlooked conditions such as leaky gut syndrome!
You don’t have to live with brain fog and memory problems. Once you figure out the cause, you’re halfway to the cure!