3 Science-Backed Methods to Beat Brain Fog

Posted on June 29, 2022

Feeling slower than usual? It’s not just you! Here’s what you need to know about brain fog and how to beat it with the right nutrition.

What is brain fog?

The term brain fog is used to describe a set of symptoms linked to the way you think. It’s characterized by the feeling of being spaced out or slow. For people with brain fog, it can be hard to concentrate properly, remember things and respond quickly.[1]

Other symptoms of brain fog include:

Feeling confused or spacey
Fuzziness in your head
Forgetfulness
Being easily distracted
Needing more time to complete simple tasks
Feeling tired or low energy

Brain fog has gained a lot more attention during the Covid-19 pandemic with many survivors reporting long-term brain fog after recovering from the illness. One study found that as many as 21% of survivors had cognitive symptoms like brain fog after being infected with Covid-19.[2]

While brain fog can be super annoying and sometimes scary, there are ways you can support your body and your brain with nutrition.

How to beat brain fog with nutrition

1. Omega 3

Fish oils have been found to increase the red blood cell omega 3/6 ratio, leading to an improvement in spatial working memory[3] - the type of memory that allows you to remember simple things like where you left your car keys and your wallet.

High DHA fish oil was also found to significantly improve short-term, immediate and working memory in elderly people with mild cognitive problems.[4] A separate study found significant improvements in symptoms of depression and fluid thinking ability - the ability to think, reason and problem solve.

In healthy young adults, supplementation with high DHA fish oil improved memory and reaction time.[5] One study of people who took supplements over 12 weeks found a significant increase in the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin, which indicates increased blood flow to the brain during cognitive tasks.[6]

What this all adds up to is strong evidence that fish oil and omega 3 supplements could help reduce the symptoms of brain fog by improving your memory, reaction time and ability to perform simple tasks. This common supplement could be what you need to get your brain back on track.

2. Vitamin A and Vitamin C

Research has revealed that the antioxidant properties of certain vitamins can reduce brain fog thanks to their protective effects on the brain. Women who had a higher daily intake of vitamin A reported lower cognitive difficulties and those with higher vitamin C intake had fewer problems with mental clarity.[7]

The antioxidant properties of vitamin A and C may protect against chronic inflammation, reducing the risk of advanced cognitive ageing.[8] This means vitamin A and C could be a method to treat brain fog both short-term and long-term.

3. Lion’s Mane mushrooms

Lion's mane or Hericium erinaceus has a long history of medicinal use originating in Asia. Known as hóu tóu gū or monkey head mushroom in Chinese, recent research found evidence of neuro-protective activity from Lion’s mane mushrooms.[9]

A clinical trial of Japanese adults between 50-80 years old with cognitive decline found marked improvements in cognitive function after 16 weeks of taking Lion’s mane mushrooms.[10] Another study found evidence for reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression in menopausal women.[11] There is also evidence of statistically significant improvement in spatial short-term memory and visual recognition memory for people who took Lion’s mane mushroom supplements.[12]

This ancient ingredient could be an extra effective tool to combat brain fog and give you some much needed mental-clarity.

A holistic solution for better focus

Brain fog is a debilitating condition that can seriously impact your quality of life. That’s why we’ve developed a blend of scientifically-backed, all-natural ingredients to help you beat brain fog. Our new Clear Focus solution helps support cognitive function and improve focus and attention. It also works to reduce mental fatigue and increase your body’s resistance to stress. 

Clear Focus contains:

Lion’s mane mushroom: To support brain health, boost cognitive function and improve your mood.
Red ginseng: To improve learning, focus and memory, while managing the effects of stress.
Standardized Green tea extract & L-theanine: Blended together to support calm focus, attention and memory
B-vitamin complex: To minimize the effects of stress and support mitochondrial health for cellular energy production.

Our unique blend combines active ingredients including lion’s mane mushroom, antioxidant-rich green tea extract and adaptogenic red ginseng to enhance your memory and focus while helping to calm the brain and reduce stress. If you’re having trouble thinking clearly, struggling with focus and jumping from task to task, you could benefit from taking Clear Focus.

Just two capsules per day can support your daily nutritional needs and move your brain from chaotic to calm.

Tired of battling brain fog?

Brain fog is an increasingly common condition, especially among people who have recovered from Covid-19. If you’re tired of feeling fuzzy-headed, slow and lacking focus, you’re not alone!

Our Clear Focus blend is specially formulated to improve your concentration, memory and focus.

To find out more about improving symptoms of fatigue, read this next. Or if you’re worried about burnout, check out these tips.

Sources

Asadi-Pooya, A.A. et al. Long COVID syndrome-associated brain fog. Journal of Medical Virology 2021 Oct;94(3):979-984.
The Writing Committee for the COMEBAC Study Group. Four-Month Clinical Status of a Cohort of Patients After Hospitalization for COVID-19. JAMA 2021 March;325(15):1525–1534.
Pase, M.P. et al. The Effects of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fish Oils and Multivitamins on Cognitive and Cardiovascular Function: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2015 Jan;34(1):21-31.
Fard, S.G. et al. How does high DHA fish oil affect health? A systematic review of evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2019;59(11):1684-1727.
Stonehouse, W. et al. DHA supplementation improved both memory and reaction time in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2013 May;97(5):1134–1143.
Bell, T., Shelley-Tremblay, J. & Pope, C. The impact of daily vitamin intake on brain fog in fibromyalgia. Journal of Pain 2018 March;19(3).
Spelman, K., Sutherland, E. & Bagade, A. Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). AARM 2017 Dec;6(1).