How to sharpen your mind and clear brain fog

Many of us have been talking about brain fog of late, whether that is because of ageing, feeling burnout, recovering from illness, or juggling too many balls in the air during this incredibly difficult last year. But what is brain fog, how does it relate to memory, and what exactly can we do about it?

It’s more than just not feeling ‘with it’

Brain fog can range from mild to severe and is associated with poor memory, not being able to focus clearly, not being able to retrieve information, and a lack of clear thinking. It can negatively affect all aspects of our lives. Brain fog can be most apparent when we struggle with our memory and our ability to acquire, store, maintain and reclaim information that we have previously experienced or learned.

A review by Theoharides et al (2015) discusses evidence that suggests stress, exposure to certain toxins and medical health problems causes inflammation of certain molecules in the brain that can contribute to brain fog. Even lack of sleep and nutritional deficiencies can add to the problem. So, what can we do to help ourselves?