There are days when you can’t seem to remember where you left your keys. And that’s perfectly normal.
But it’s definitely not normal if you’ve been experiencing this and feeling forgetful almost every day.
Do you have problems making up your mind even with small decisions? Do you often walk into rooms and forget why you went there in the first place?
Severe brain fog manifests as the inability to concentrate long enough at school, work, or the typical daily interactions in life. Do you need more of these to function well – more coffee, more sugary snacks, more sleep, more time?
If you say yes to almost all of the above, there’s a good chance that you’re experiencing a brain fog.
What’s a Brain Fog?
Brain fog is defined as greater than six months of persistent fatigue physically and cognitively, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. Affected individuals collectively describe symptoms as constant confusion, lack of concentration, difficulties focusing, forgetfulness, or haziness in one’s thought processes.
Every so often, when you’re standing or sitting down, you shake your head, and you get this weird sensation inside your head for a few seconds. It almost feels like when you stand up after laying down, and you get a head rush, but it happens chronically.
Brain and Bread Fog: What’s the Connection?
One of the tricky aspects of brain fog is that it’s a common symptom for a variety of root causes. It could be exacerbated by alcohol, caffeine, lack of sleep, blood sugar swings, and even thyroid disorders.
At Hauser Health, we’ve helped clients experiencing brain fog symptoms improve their focus and gain mental clarity by changing their diet, and more many by taking a break from wheat and gluten.
For thousands of years, bread has always been on the table in various forms. But unfortunately, today’s wheat bears little resemblance to the wild grain that was cultivated centuries ago.
Wheat now contains significantly fewer nutrients to sustain life than it once did because it has been hybridized to increase yields, instead of carefully considering whether these new strains are nutrient-dense or not.
While other compounds in wheat can trigger undesirable inflammatory reactions leading to brain fog, avoiding gluten has been shown to reduce brain fog and its related symptoms.
Going Gluten-Free Isn’t the Only Answer
Eliminating gluten in your diet doesn’t mean sticking only to restaurants offering gluten-free options or running to the gluten-free aisle at the grocery. It’s worth noting that gluten-free food has become a business for many. You’ll find it easy to find anything that is gluten-free these days — from cake mix to crackers to bread.
At Hauser Health, our approach is to help you beat brain fog by eliminating or reducing gluten in your diet through healthy alternatives such as real, unprocessed foods. In some cases, food supplementation (like fish oil magnesium, and zinc) and other lifestyle changes are required.
Ready to get to the bottom of your brain fog?
Schedule an appointment with Hauser Health if you’re in Frederick and surrounding areas in Maryland. We’ll help teach you the tools required for your body to feel more energized and regain your focus.