Many of us laughingly refer to our lapses in short term memory or fumbles with word recall as “senior moments”. However, is loss of brain function truly an “inevitable part of aging”? In fact, cognitive complaints such as brain fog, poor memory, and lack of concentration are far from unavoidable. There are a number of commonalities that, when identified and addressed, can lead to significant improvement in, and elimination of, these symptoms–no matter what age you are. Let’s look at a few.
Simple Dehydration: Are you drinking enough water? Over seventy percent of the human body is composed of water and every single function in the body relies upon proper hydration. A substantial portion of your brain is water, and when dehydrated, your brain actually shrinks in volume! Even mild dehydration can cause numerous side effects, such as difficulty with focus and memory, and brain fog. The good news? Within only twenty minutes of drinking water, these side effects are reversed!
Nutrients and Nutrient Absorption: Sixty percent of the brain is comprised of fat, thirty five percent saturated fat with twenty five percent essential fatty acids! Yet the average American is only getting a fraction of these vital fats from their diet. In addition, important neurotransmitters for thinking, alertness, and memory such as acetylcholine and dopamine require foods high in choline, certain amino acids and zinc, derived from eggs, meat, seafood, and cheese. The problem? Even if you are eating foods high in these nutrients, you may be absorbing only a small percentage of what you require. Many suffer from chronically low stomach acid and inadequate enzymes required to absorb nutrients from the food that they eat. This is relatively easy to correct with the right supplements and proper nutrition.
Hormonal Deficiencies. People with hypothyroidism are often treated with synthetic or natural thyroid hormones, and yet it can be extremely difficult to get symptoms under control. Those with inadequate thyroid hormones to the brain often report a loss of cognitive function, including forgetfulness, feeling “spaced out”, and difficulty thinking clearly. In addition, at least sixty percent of women report memory issues and brain fog as they go through menopause. Strategies that optimize thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can help. One strategy includes acupuncture, which is a powerful method of stimulating and regulating the body’s hormonal systems.
The causes of brain fog, poor memory, and lack of concentration can take some sleuthing, with solutions from simple to complex. At Vital Health we help people find clarity regarding the root causes of their health challenges, providing step-by-step guidance on what to do in order to restore health naturally.
©2021 Darcy Greenwald, M.S.O.M., L.Ac. and Vital Health
