You are sitting at your desk at 9:00 a.m. Even though you have a ton of work to accomplish, you just can't seem to concentrate. You can see the words on the page or screen in front of you with good vision, but for some reason they aren't... sinking in.
You aren't ill, you're not drunk or distracted, you slept well last night, so you know it's not any of those things. Because it's Tuesday, it's not simply a case of the Mondays either.
You do indeed have brain fog.
Brain Fog: What is it?
Brain fog is a generic sense of being disoriented, disoriented, and lacking mental clarity rather than a physical ailment. If it has turned out to be a recurring concern for you, you should absolutely consult a doctor because it might be caused by a variety of underlying health conditions, including lengthy COVID.
Having said that, we all experience it occasionally, and it's typically nothing to be concerned about. However, it still causes discomfort and inconvenience, especially when you have tasks that call for your whole focus.
5 Strategies to Combat the Fog
Your brain is most likely not operating at its optimal potential if your doctor has ruled out any significant health issues. Fortunately, there are a few strategies that might assist you in getting the necessary mental tune-up. Before beginning an exercise routine or using a dietary supplement, speak with your doctor. These are the first five:
Exercise
Go for a walk, buddy!
Nothing can clear the mind like some exercise and some fresh air, even if it's only a simple stroll in the park. Research has demonstrated that exercise enhances cognitive performance by lowering cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and that being physically fit encourages development in the hippocampus, the area of the brain in charge of learning and memory.
However, studies aren't necessary to teach us what common sense already tells us. Like all other organs, your brain need adequate oxygen-rich blood flow to function at its best. A brisk walk in the outdoors is a tried-and-true approach to fill your lungs with fresh air and get your heart pounding.
But if that is ineffective...
Coffee is a good source of caffeine.
"I need my morning coffee before I can work on anything!" At some time in our professional careers, we've all heard it — and most likely uttered it. And there's a good reason for it; coffee, which has between 40 and 150 milligrams per dose, is a stimulant that temporarily enhances lower cognitive skills like attention, alertness, and response time. About 80% of American adults rely on it to get through their everyday tasks.
However, coffee only serves as a temporary remedy for poor mental function, and consuming too much of it might have the opposite effect by making you restless and disoriented.
L-Theanine
Consider a cool cup of green tea if you don't like coffee.
Green tea also contains caffeine, although it's considerably less (about 33mg per serving). In addition to being strong in antioxidants, it also has a significant amount (around 25 mg) of L-theanine, an amino acid with established neuroenhancement advantages.
In a recent scientific research conducted in Japan, it was shown that a single dosage of L-theanine not only sped up respondents' response times but also helped them perform better on memory assessments.
According to a research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, L-theanine is also a neuroprotective agent, which means that it strengthens the brain against degeneration. The study's authors hypothesized that L-theanine may one day be used as a treatment for brain damage brought on by drug usage.
Mangiferin
Mangiferin, an extract from mango leaves, was extremely popular when it first appeared on the supplements scene in 2018 under the brand name Zynamite.
Mangiferin has been dubbed "a natural miracle" by an international team of scientists who studied its many health benefits, which may even include the potential to prevent brain cancer. The manufacturer, Nektium, advertises it as a caffeine-free nootropic that boosts cognition, mental performance, and reactivity, as well as reducing fatigue.
Mangiferin appears to have potential as a successful therapy for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to medical specialists, pending more clinical testing.
Mangiferin doesn't have any known cardiovascular negative effects, so it won't give you the jitters that excessive coffee consumption does.
Salidroside
Salidroside, a bioactive substance present in the adaptogenic herb Rhodiola rosea, is another another nootropic produced from plants (roseroot). This is also being discussed as a potential option for neurological rehabilitation therapy that has no adverse effects.
While pure salidroside's potent neuroprotective effects are well documented in preclinical tests on rodents, a 2009 scientific review of the salidroside-rich roseroot extract SHR-5 by the Swedish Herbal Institute came to the conclusion that SHR-5 "improved attention, cognitive function, and mental performance" in human subjects.
However, many commercially available roseroot supplements only have minimal levels of salidroside, so make sure to look for it on the label.
Final Words of Advice
Most individuals are completely clueless about how to deal with brain fog. Thankfully, because you have read this site, you are not one of them.
Of all the fog-fighting techniques mentioned above, increasing your level of activity should probably be tried first. However, if your doctor gives the all-clear and you're still having trouble with brain fog, natural nootropics like L-theanine, mangiferin, and salidroside are demonstrating great potential as effective brain-boosters that can aid you when you need it most.
