Don't Dismiss Brain Fog Brain fog is a common condition in which you struggle to focus, your…

Brain fog is a common condition in which you struggle to focus, your concentration is stolen from you, and your thoughts may even become clouded.

• Have you become forgetful?
• Are you having trouble concentrating?
• Are you experiencing fatigue and forgetfulness even though you haven’t overexerted yourself physically or mentally?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the likelihood that you have “brain fog” is very high!

What can you do about brain fog?

Brain fog is a common condition in which you struggle to focus, your concentration is stolen from you, and your thoughts may even become clouded.  If you are experiencing brain fog, you may be unable to think clearly, may forget the simplest things, and may feel that you have lost confidence in yourself. 

Chronic fatigue and brain fog refer to a very similar clinical picture. If you are experiencing brain fog, you are neither the first nor the last person to do so. Know that you are not alone in this.

Brain fog was not this widespread before the pandemic. Now, every day, we see a growing number of patients experiencing similar clinical complaints — among those who have had COVID and developed long or post-COVID syndrome, those who eat an unhealthy and unbalanced diet, those who sleep poorly, those with disrupted gut flora, those with candida albicans (yeast overgrowth), those who cannot manage stress, and those who developed symptoms after vaccination.

But let us say from the outset that just as you are not alone in this, it is also possible to recover from it, because this is not an inescapable fate.

Main Symptoms of Brain Fog

The underlying cause is thought to be what we call chronic inflammation — primarily mitochondrial insufficiency, along with small-scale inflammation in the brain. You may have great difficulty gathering and clearly processing your emotions.

In brain fog, the limbic system — where our emotions and memories are processed — is particularly affected. 

If there is an imbalance here, for example due to oxidative stress or nutrient deficiency, the following symptoms may appear (1):

• Difficulty concentrating and disorientation
• Forgetfulness, distractibility
• Mental cloudiness and confusion
• Difficulty focusing or lack of focus
• Fatigue syndrome, chronic fatigue and burnout
• Headache
• Apathy
• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders, difficulty falling asleep, or constant sleepiness
• A tendency to leave tasks unfinished
• Forgetting where you put something or being unable to find it
• Forgetting what you meant to do while working

Brain fog has many causes! However, here I will focus on the 10 most common ones…

Brain fog is actually not yet a formally defined medical term.  With the pandemic, this has become a condition many people are familiar with. Although it is very common, this does not mean brain fog is normal. Unlike ordinary forgetfulness, which disrupts a person’s daily tasks, brain fog is a warning signal that something in the brain is out of balance and urgently needs to be corrected.

As we have seen more patients with brain fog and helped more of them, we have found that the trigger for this condition can be nutrient deficiency, as well as certain living conditions that are not good for the body and mind. 

Based on my personal observations and our close examination of patients experiencing this clinical picture, along with the results of our analyses, the most common causes of brain fog are as follows:

Unhealthy and Unbalanced Nutrition

I believe that unbalanced or completely wrong nutrition, which contributes to gut flora disruption, is one of the main causes of brain fog. 

For example, if you eat too many carbohydrates and too much sugar, your insulin level rises. However, your insulin level drops again shortly afterward, which can cause a rapid decline in brain performance. In other words, you cannot restore your thinking by consuming sugar (2).

The most important requirement for avoiding these ups and downs is healthy and balanced nutrition, as well as staying away from refined, empty-calorie items such as sweets, sugar, honey, chocolate, and alcohol — these should be among our absolute must-avoids.

Healthy and balanced eating, on the other hand, means a diet that is low in sugar but rich in nutrients. Consuming vital, whole foods must be one of our absolute priorities. Paying attention to seasonal and organic food consumption, chewing food thoroughly, and drinking enough of the vital water we need each day are all very important. When you eat correctly and in a balanced way, your brain is sufficiently nourished with vital substances throughout the day, so you will not experience symptoms of brain fog, or will experience them less. However, eating too little high-quality fat can also weaken your mental performance (1).

Remember that your brain is, on average, 60-65% fat. For brain activity, what we actually need more than refined sugar is high-quality fat — specifically omega-3 fatty acids and a combination of NADH and Q10. The lower the proportion of omega-3, NADH, and Q10 in our diet, the higher the rate of inflammation in the brain, which in turn triggers brain fog.

For the brain’s functions to work well and be protected, foods containing omega-3 should regularly be part of the menu. Good sources of omega-3 fats include oily sea fish, hazelnuts, coconut oil, eggs, avocado, and krill oil.   

Intolerances, Sensitivities, and Allergies Secondary to Gut Flora Disruption

I believe it is worth mentioning that, among the patients I follow, I commonly see brain fog in patients with food sensitivity, hypersensitivity, intolerance, excess histamine, or what we call candida albicans (yeast overgrowth).

We see brain fog more frequently, in particular, in patients with intestinal dysbiosis together with candida albicans, and in those with gluten sensitivity/intolerance. In patients with candida albicans specifically, we frequently see brain fog, chronic fatigue, weight gain, obesity, and excessive craving for sweets. Gluten has been shown to cause brain fog not only in celiac patients but also in patients with gluten intolerance (3). 

A high rate of celiac disease has also been found among patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Accordingly, an improvement in the subjects’ behavior and performance was observed following a change in diet.

For this reason, our primary approach to all our brain fog patients is as follows: correcting disrupted gut flora, combating candida albicans if present, and also determining from the outset whether the person has any sensitivity, intolerance, or allergy to certain foods, and arranging their diet accordingly — these are all among our absolute priorities.

Do you also react to nuts, dairy products, or certain types of fruit?   You should closely monitor whether your concentration drops after eating certain products. An intolerance to lectins can also trigger brain fog (3).

Glutamate and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose also have a negative effect on the brain in some people. 

For patients with Candida Albicans (yeast overgrowth), effective treatment, correct and balanced nutrition, neural therapy, and the right supplement support product, “NTVita CandStp MCT Oil Plus,” are all very important (4).

Dehydration Due to Not Drinking Enough Water

When I dig a bit deeper into the history of patients with brain fog, I find that they don’t drink much water. I want to point out that thirst/dehydration is among the important causes of brain fog. Water deficiency causes typical concentration problems and can lead to significant consequences even with mild insufficiency.

Did you know that 75% of our brain’s total volume is made up of water? This water level in the brain must always be maintained for the brain to function and work properly. A study conducted at the University of Barcelona in Spain revealed that even a 2% state of dehydration in humans significantly reduces cognitive abilities.

Under exertion or stress, people tend to regularly forget to drink water. Normally, our water requirement is 40 ml per kilogram of body weight.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES WE COMMONLY IDENTIFY IN CASES OF BRAIN FOG

Even the healthiest diet can have nutrient deficiencies that create this foggy feeling in the brain. Some of the things you may be lacking include:

NADH:

• NADH provides energy to our cells for our vital functions
• It increases our mental and physical performance
• It increases concentration
• It relieves chronic fatigue
• It has a positive effect on quality sexuality and sexual performance
• It has a positive effect on the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases
• It helps repair damage caused by lack of sleep
• It strengthens our immune system (5).

NADH, together with Coenzyme Q10, plays an important role in energy metabolism and is necessary for a strong immune system.

Ninety-seven percent of our energy-providing metabolic processes depend on the presence of Coenzyme Q10 + NADH. This combination is among the absolute essentials in the fight against brain fog (4,6).

Coenzyme Q10 is especially important in the mitochondria. A vitamin-like, endogenous compound, Coenzyme Q10 is necessary for energy production in the mitochondria. It increases the production of ATP — the body’s own energy source — with the help of oxygen in the mitochondria.  I consider NTVita NADH Plus Q10 Capsules to be an important dietary supplement for supporting our mitochondria, which are so vital to our bodies, to work harder and to produce higher-quality energy (4,5,6).

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 deficiency is also present at a significant level in these patients. It is worth noting here that, in the examinations we have conducted on our patients, we found vitamin B12 deficiency in 30-40% of them.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency is also present at a significant level. We encounter vitamin D deficiency in approximately 20-30% of our patients.

Omega-3: As mentioned above, the brain needs good fats in order to function. Those who do not like eating fish can obtain the important omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA through supplements. 

Magnesium: Magnesium deficiency is more common than you might think.  Deficiency manifests itself, among other things, through fatigue, concentration problems, reduced cognitive ability, and brain fog. Since magnesium is necessary for all bodily functions and metabolic processes, deficiency should be prevented in time.

Poor Sleep Quality and Sleep Deprivation

Do you sleep very little, very restlessly, and wake up more often at night? Or do you lie awake in bed for hours, unable to sleep? If so, the cause of your brain fog is likely sleep deprivation (7).

Sleep is not a passive period of time. It is an active process during which organs and cells damaged during the day are repaired. Unless you get quality sleep, you cannot be at full efficiency the next day. What you learn during sleep is stored in your memory and is easier to recall (7).

At the same time, not just the brain but the cells throughout our entire body are renewed during a restful sleep phase.  The better the quality of your sleep, the better your brain will be able to perform throughout the day. Even a single restless night can have a major effect on your thinking ability (7).

Effective Stress Management

If stress is too high, all bodily functions go out of control. Among other things, this causes your brain to become foggy and prevents you from being able to think clearly. Chronic stress increases the release of cortisol in the body. This, in turn, promotes the formation of free radicals that damage brain cells. Using meditation and proper breathing techniques can help manage stress well. Additionally, a hormonal axis addressed through neural therapy is very important. Regulation of the limbic system, aided by kinesiological applications, is of great importance in this condition (8).

Giving Up Tea and Coffee

Excessive tea and coffee consumption can cause brain fog. This is because both black tea and coffee are very strong diuretics, causing fluid loss and thereby dehydration, which can lead to brain fog. Sudden withdrawal from tea and coffee can also, at first, cause brain fog. You may experience coffee and tea withdrawal symptoms. Brain fog is usually accompanied by headache.  However, these withdrawal symptoms from stopping coffee and tea do not last long. The good news is that this withdrawal period lasts at most 1-2 weeks (1,2,8).

Inactivity – Lack of Exercise

People sometimes cannot find enough time to run regularly or exercise sufficiently. If a body that was previously active stops moving, brain fog can develop rapidly, because if you don’t exercise enough, your brain does not receive adequate blood flow (1,8).

Even a short walk in fresh air can help provide better oxygen to brain cells and help set them back on track. Even brisk walks of 30-45 minutes at least two or three times a week can improve subsequent cognitive performance.

Environmental Pollution – Environmental Toxins

If you eat a balanced diet, exercise enough, maintain an ideal work-life balance, and yet still suffer from brain fog, the cause may be environmental toxins and heavy metals you have been exposed to. In our examinations of patients with chronic fatigue, brain fog complaints, and neurodegenerative diseases, we often find latent acidosis and heavy metal burden (9).  We find heavy metal burden in nearly all of the patients we follow with a diagnosis of brain fog. The greater your heavy metal burden, the greater the buildup in connective tissue, preventing cells from receiving sufficient oxygen and leading to mitochondrial insufficiency. In addition to neural therapy, NTVita Tetra DTX Plus Capsules can be used to effectively address heavy metal burden. With its active phytochelators, it is a very appropriate support product for mobilizing and eliminating heavy metals (10).

Brain Fog Secondary to Post-COVID, Long COVID, and Vaccination

We frequently see brain fog in those who have had COVID. We observe that, underlying this, COVID triggers secondary flare-ups of pre-existing weak links and recurrences of underlying autoimmune diseases. We observe that cardiovascular disorders resulting from circulatory disturbances secondary to COVID have increased.

In a significant study conducted by L. Fischer and Hans Barop on the chronic inflammatory state secondary to COVID, they showed that the active load placed on the sympathetic nervous system is very important, and that neural therapy — used to effectively combat this inflammation, whether from a cytokine storm or general inflammation — also effectively improves brain fog and chronic fatigue syndrome. In this situation, strengthening the patient’s immune system is important.

Conclusion – How Do You Treat Your Brain Fog?

Now you know the most common causes of this disturbing fog in the brain, and you can review your personal checklist. Perhaps you need to optimize your diet. Are you not getting enough of the important nutrients?

Or have you been a bit too fatigued lately to exercise regularly? 

Do you have too much on your plate right now and can’t gather your thoughts? 

Or do you toss and turn at night?

Perhaps the problem has a very simple solution. A small change in your lifestyle can have a major effect on your mental performance. Go out into fresh air more often, sit in the sun, optimize your diet, and try to sleep better — then the fog in your head will clear.

Dr. Hüseyin NAZLIKUL, M.D., PhD.
President of IFMANT = International Federation of Medical Associations for Neural Therapy
President of the Scientific Neural Therapy and Regulation Medicine Association

REFERENCES:

1. Nazlikul, H: Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Guide – Nutrition Without Toxins – Destek Yayınları – 1st Edition 2021
2. Nazlikul, H.: The Emotional Brain-Gut Connection – Destek Yayınları – 27th Edition 2018
3. Nazlikul, H. and Acarkan, T: Beautiful, Happy, and Healthy – Discover Holistic Nutrition – Destek Yayınları – 1st Edition 2017
4. https://nt-vita.com
5. https://nt-vita.com/nadh-q1/6.html
6. https://nt-vita.com/koenzim-q10/10.html
7. Nazlikul, H: The Magic Power of Sleep and the Dangerous Lullaby of Electrosmog
8. Nazlikul, H: Living to 100 Is Possible – Anti-Aging Guide – Destek Yayınları – 2019
9. Nazlikul, H: Discover Detox – Alfa 2012
10. https://nt-vita.com/Tetra-DTX-Plus/product/2