Brain fog is something we’re all familiar with. While there is no exact definition to explain the condition, everybody has experienced the symptoms at some point or another – fatigue, poor concentration, low mood, and minimal work output.
This phenomenon is commonplace, majorly affecting our ability to remember, think, and concentrate. For a lot of us, with our fast-paced modern lives, brain fog is a luxury we can’t afford.
It’s no wonder that many of us wonder how we can overcome this everyday annoyance. Try a better diet? Get more regular exercise? Reduce our daily workload?
These are all great ideas, but sometimes these adjustments aren’t enough. That’s why more and more people have been turning to nootropics to help them cut through the fog.
Trying to figure out which product is right for you can be a bit of a minefield, which is why we’ve come together to help you understand the causes of brain fog, along with some potential solutions.
Understanding the Causes of Brain Fog
There’s no root cause for brain fog; a range of different issues can cause mental fatigue, so identifying which is the problem for you is key to getting the most out of your day.
Brain fog generally has three major causes:
- Lack of sleep
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammation
Each of these affects the brain in different ways, so the solution you need depends on what you’re dealing with. Don’t worry if you’re unsure which is impacting you. We’re here to give you a rundown of each one to help you get a better understanding.
Sleep Deprivation
It really cannot be understated just how important sleep is for your everyday brain function. Unfortunately, amidst the hustle and bustle of our demanding modern lives, sleep is often one of the first things to go the wayside.
Missing just 1.5 hours of sleep will result in a thick cloud of brain fog; you’ll feel less alert, struggle to form memories, and experience a low mood. That’s not to mention that missing sleep on a long-term basis can result in serious health problems, like depression, diabetes, and even heart disease.
Lack of sleep is an epidemic, with the NHS estimating that nearly one-third of UK adults suffer from regular restless nights. If you’re not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night, this is likely the cause of your brain fog.
Sleep is a very delicate process, so there are a lot of issues that can potentially give you trouble.
A common issue is poor sleep hygiene. Habits such as drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, watching screens before sleep, and frequent naps can all disrupt our circadian rhythm and cause us grief.
While these problems can be fixed with some simple lifestyle adjustments, some issues with sleep go deeper – hormone imbalances, feelings of stress and anxiety, and poor-quality rest require a more creative solution.
So, which nootropic could help?
Dream for Sleep
Benefits:
- Slip into a comfortable night’s rest faster
- Enjoy better quality sleep
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Helps develop a healthy circadian rhythm
Dream for Sleep is our all-in-one sleep assistant, specially engineered by our scientists to target each of the potential problem areas that might be getting between you and a healthy night’s sleep.
This unique blend contains four soothing nootropics: ashwagandha, L-theanine, griffonia simplicifolia, and valerian root.
Ashwagandha and L-theanine are both renowned for their calming effects, both acting on the brain in unique ways to help induce relaxation.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that regulates levels of cortisol to help reduce stress. Meanwhile, L-theanine passes through your blood-brain barrier to interact with your brain’s GABA receptors to ease anxiety.
Griffonia simplicifolia is a root that can help achieve more stable sleep. This is because it features high concentrations of 5-HTP, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and promote better mood.
Finally, valerian root functions to bolster the quality of your sleep. It’s thought to do this by helping to raise levels of GABA in the brain, an important neurotransmitter that helps to calm the nervous system.
Through a combination of powerful sleep agents, this unique nootropic blend allows you to enjoy a variety of potential benefits in one handy package. Getting a better handle on your sleep can let you enjoy improved cognitive function and mood, eliminating brain fog.
Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule a day with a glass of water.
Oxidative Stress
Your brain is truly a powerhouse. It maps the function of all your bodily functions, all while performing high-level thought and reasoning, constantly processing and storing complex information in the form of memories.
As a result, your brain demands a lot of fuel. Around 20% of your body’s total oxygen intake is used entirely by your brain, powering its 86 billion neurons. Your brain is constantly breaking down oxygen to support this complex neural network, but these reactions produce potentially harmful by-products known as free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable atoms that can react violently to cells in the body and brain, causing oxidative stress. Your brain does have uses for these free radicals, but when levels get too high, they can get loose and cause damage.
When your brain undergoes oxidative stress over a period of time, it leads to the cognitive decline associated with ageing. Many of us will find that, as we get older, our memory becomes unclear, our thinking less sharp, and our reaction times get slower.
If you’ve been experiencing more and more brain fog as you get older, there’s a good chance it is the result of oxidative stress.
Certain nootropics, thanks to their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, are thought to help slow and even reverse the signs of oxidative stress.
So, which nootropic could you choose to help turn the tides?
Ashwagandha
Benefits:
- Prevent cognitive decline with antioxidant properties
- Sharpen everyday focus
- Increase memory
- Uplift mood and wellbeing
Ashwagandha is one of the most popular nootropics in the world, used for centuries as a staple of Ayurvedic medicine.
One of the most well-documented benefits of ashwagandha is its antioxidant properties. Research has shown that regular supplementation can help combat the cellular damage caused by free radicals, reducing the impact of oxidative stress.
Known to improve memory and cognitive function, this powerful adaptogen could also improve your mood by helping to keep cortisol levels down, easing feelings of stress and anxiety.
Through its neuroprotective and adaptogenic properties, ashwagandha could be the key to eliminating your brain fog, granting you better focus, memory, and improved mood.
Suggested Use: Take 2 capsules a day with a glass of water.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to negative factors such as illness, injury, or anything else that disrupts homeostasis.
While inflammation plays an important role in keeping us healthy, it can sometimes cause problems. Chronic inflammation can lead to prolonged periods of pain, swelling, heat, and loss of function.
Another common side effect of inflammation is brain fog. When your body or brain is inflamed, you’re likely to experience a debilitating sense of fatigue, leading to low mood and poor concentration.
Inflammation is a leading cause of brain fog among middle-aged adults, but it can affect any of us. If issues with your health are often leaving you with poor concentration, thinking, and feelings of exhaustion, it may be a consequence of inflammation.
Switching to a nutrient-rich diet can be a good way to combat this, but if you find that’s not enough, it’s a good idea to start thinking about other solutions. Nootropics may be able to sharpen your cognitive function and improve your well-being.
But which nootropic should you consider?
Apigenin
Benefits:
- Potent anti-inflammatory properties
- Enhances cognitive function
- Promotes better sleep
- Supports physical and emotional well-being
Apigenin is a natural flavonoid that is acclaimed for its soothing effects, promoting better well-being and mental clarity.
Possessing strong anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, apigenin is thought to ease the symptoms of inflammation – such as brain fog – while contributing to better immunity, helping to stop inflammation at its source.
Apigenin is also reported to exert anxiolytic effects, helping to reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety, which can lead to feelings of mental fatigue.
By reducing inflammation and promoting better emotional and physical well-being, apigenin could help you cut through brain fog, allowing you to feel refreshed and alert.
Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule a day with a glass of water.
Which Nootropic Should I Pick to Fight Brain Fog?
Your nootropic should be targeting the area you feel is causing your brain fog.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, Dream for Sleep is a great solution.
If you’ve been experiencing more brain fog with age, oxidative stress is likely to blame, and you should go for a neuroprotective nootropic such as ashwagandha.
If you’re regularly suffering from mental fatigue as a result of poor physical well-being and inflammation, we recommend trying apigenin.
Sometimes, you may find that you need support in a few areas. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to stack your nootropics so you can target several problems at once.
We’ve also put together a handy nootropics quiz to help you come to a decision. This will identify your needs and suggest a product to help you.
All of our UK-manufactured supplements are scientifically backed, so no matter which nootropic you choose, you’ll be on your way to improved mental clarity!
