Five Things - Amazon Simple Storage Service€¦ · FIVE THINGS THEY NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT BRAIN FOG...

Five Things They never Told you

AbouT brAin Fog

by Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS

© Elephant Press, 2016

drknews.com

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FIVE THINGS THEY NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT BRAIN FOG | DR. DATIS KHARRAZIAN, DHSc, DC, MS | 3

Five Things They never Told you

AbouT brAin Fog

Do you suffer from brain fog? You’re not alone; it’s a pervasive problem affecting many people and sadly, the conventional medi-cal model does nothing to address it.

If you have brain fog, you might have any of the following symptoms:

• Your brain feel like it’s cloudy, spacey, or moves in slow motion.

• You forget things a lot, such as where your keys are, names, or details.

• It’s difficult to do your job, take care of your family, hold a conversation, or enjoy things in life that used to make you happy.

• You suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, depression, lack of motivation, and autoimmunity or inflammation.

It’s important to know that brain fog is NOT normal; it’s your brain’s way of telling you something is wrong.


It signifies your brain is aging (degenerating) too fast, and that inflammation is attacking your brain and destroying cells.

What causes brain fog is different for everyone. It’s important to look for the underlying causes of your brain fog and address them, because left alone, it can lead to worse depression, inability to lead a normal life, and even irreversible degenerative condi-tions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.


1. Poor communication between brain cells, or neurons,

causes brain fog

The first key thing to understand about brain fog is that it’s not normal aging, or something that will just go away if left alone.

Brain fog happens when brain cells are not firing. In other words, neurons are not relaying information to one another efficiently, caus-ing poor function.

That’s it. If neurons do not communicate well with each other, you will experience brain fog.

The question we have to ask is what is causing the neurons not to fire?

One of the most common causes of brain fog is unstable blood sugar. Your blood sugar should be stable throughout the day. However, most people suffer from blood sugar that swings too low and/or too high. This is due to modern diets that are high in carbohydrates and sugar; skipping meals; subsisting on coffee; and other habits that skew blood sugar.

The gut and the brain communicate with each other via a nerve pathway called the vagus. When your gut or brain is out of balance, so is the other. Imbalances in the gut can directly affect the health of the brain, leading to brain fog.

When the gut lining becomes leaky (“leaky gut”), it leads to an inflammatory cascade that leads to inflammation in the brain, speed-ing along degeneration.


Lack of circulation to the brain’s frontal cortex or hormone imbal-ances could affect firing of the brain, leading to brain fog.

Inflammation is another common factor that reduces firing of the neurons in the frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate gyrus.

Chronic inflammation and autoimmunity create immune com-pounds that cross into the brain and inflame it, which decreases the firing of neurons in the brain. When this happens, people experience symptoms of brain fog.

One of the key components to addressing brain fog isn’t any kind of medication, but instead an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle protocol.

We often see brain fog resolve just from this one lifestyle intervention.

In the rest of this ebook I talk about other factors that can reduce activity in this area of the brain, thus causing brain fog.


2. unstable blood sugar causes brain fog

It never fails to surprise me how common blood sugar is as a factor in brain fog. It is one of the most overlooked causes.

If your blood sugar is too low or too high it could cause brain fog.

Do you have these symptoms of low blood sugar (reactive hypoglycemia)?

• Increased energy after meals• Cravings for sweets between meals• Irritability or lightheadedness if meals are missed or late• Dependency on coffee and sugar for energy• Eating to relieve fatigue• Feeling shaky, jittery, tremulous• Feeling agitated or nervous• Becoming upset easily• Poor memory, forgetfulness• Blurred vision• Waking up at 3 or 4 a.m.


Do you have these symptoms of high blood sugar (insulin resistance)?

• Fatigue or drowsiness after meals• General fatigue• Constant hunger• Cravings for sweets not relieved by eating them• Must have sweets after meals• Constant hunger and/or thirst• Waist girth equal to or larger than hip girth• Frequent urination• Difficulty losing weight• Migrating aches and pains• Trouble falling asleepDo you have symptoms of both low and high blood sugar?The brain is extremely sensitive to blood sugar and insulin

(the hormone used to regulate blood sugar). Blood sugar that is either too low or too high compromises the brain’s fuel source and hence its function, making you more vulnerable to brain fog.

Low blood sugar robs the brain of energy, causing it to mal-function and age too fast, destroying brain cells (neurons) and causing symptoms of brain fog.

High blood sugar damages the brain, causing degeneration and brain fog symptoms. This link is so well known that scientists call Alzheimer’s “Type 3 Diabetes.”


Blood sugar swings also profoundly impact hormones. Imbalanced hormones in both men and women are a cause of brain fog.

These blood sugar highs and lows throw off neurotransmitter activity and affect how certain amino acids cross into the brain to make neurotransmitters, setting the stage for brain fog.

The biggest offenders in unstable blood sugar are diets that are too high in processed carbohydrates and sweets, and skipping meals. Chronic overeating is another factor.

In some cases, managing brain fog can be as easy as using your diet to stabilize your blood sugar. This means eating a whole foods diet that consists primarily of produce, avoiding sweets and processed foods, eating plenty of protein and healthy fat, and eating only enough carbohydrates appropriate for you.

Clinically, we find many people relieve brain fog simply by stabilizing their blood sugar.

For more information on how to relieve brain fog through diet, visit my blog article here.

http://brainhealthbook.com/brain-sugar/


3. leaky gut, bad gut bacteria, and brain fog

One thing you may have noticed in the news lately is the link between brain function and gut health. It’s huge.

A giant nerve, called the vagus nerve, runs between your brain and digestive system, and the two are in constant, close communication with each other.

When gut health is bad, brain health suffers. And vice versa. So if you have digestive problems — constipation, diarrhea,

indigestion, acid reflux, IBS, bloating, gas, belching, and so on — this could actually be causing your brain fog.

When the lining of your small intestine has become inflamed, damaged, and overly porous, the result is that undigested food particles, yeast, bacteria, and other undesirable compounds enter the sterile environment of the bloodstream. This is called leaky gut.

Leaky gut triggers all manner of health problems, including food intolerances, pain, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, skin issues, joint problems, and, you guessed it…brain fog and associated symptoms such as depression and lack of motivation.

Leaky gut causes inflammatory responses that in turn have been shown to cause damage in the brain and speed degen-eration. This in turns impacts firing of the brain into the vagus


nerve so that the vagus does not adequately activate the enteric nervous system in the gut, and a vicious cycle takes hold.

Unfortunately, the gut can be on fire and the brain can be on fire, but because there are no pain fibers in either region, the inflammation is not always obvious. It typically manifests in other ways, such as brain fog or depression, and bloating and distention in the gut.

Other symptoms linked with brain fog that stem from leaky gut include food allergies and food intolerances, chronic inflam-mation, and autoimmune disease.

Although we all have a large population of bacteria in our digestive tract (an estimated three to four pounds), when the bad bacteria outweigh the good, this also causes leaky gut and related health complaints.

Sometimes healing leaky gut and dysbiosis is pretty straightfor-ward. It involves following an anti-inflammatory diet and taking gut repair nutrients and probiotics.

Other times, such as in the case of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), autoimmune diseases that affect the digestive tract, or poor brain function that compromises digestive health, it can be more complicated.

Additional factors that hinder gut healing include hypothyroid-ism, chronic stress, frequent alcohol consumption, and certain medications.

It’s important to address the underlying cause of your leaky gut. Maybe it was a round of antibiotics? Or was it a chronically

http://www.siboinfo.com


poor diet, corticosteroid use, or a head injury that affected func-tion of the vagus nerve?

Knowing what caused your gut problems will help you resolve them.

Additionally, the leaky gut diet (also called the autoimmune diet) and supporting nutritional compounds are very therapeutic.

Some people need to follow the leaky gut protocol for just a month or so to see drastic improvement.

Others need to make some form of it a way of life. It all depends on your existing health conditions. If you struggle with several autoimmune diseases and are very sensitive to many things, you may need to follow a modified version of the leaky gut diet lifelong.


4. Poor circulation and brain fog

Are your fingers, toes, and nose cold to the touch? These are signs of poor circulation and mean your brain may

not be getting enough blood. As a consequence, brain function slows down and suffers, which often results in brain fog.

People don’t often think of circulation in relation to brain function and brain health, but consider vascular dementia — dementia caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. It is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s.

This is because the blood brings not only oxygen to the brain, but also nutrients, hormones, neurotransmitters, immune cells, and other compounds the brain needs to function optimally.

Also, brain neurons need oxygen to make enough energy to function.

Factors that cause low circulationFollowing are factors that can cause low circulation:• Anemia• Chronic stress (stress keeps the body in “fight-or-flight”

mode, which shunts blood flow away from the brain and to the limbs, heart, and lungs)

• Blood sugar disorders — low blood sugar, high blood sugar, diabetes


• Hypothyroidism• Low blood pressure — this is typically related to adrenal

fatigue. The further from 120/80 your blood pressure is the worse your problem is.

• Smoking• Sedentary lifestyle

symptoms oF low circulationHow do you know if poor circulation might be contributing to

your brain fog? Consider whether you suffer from the following symptoms: • Cold hands, feet, and nose (must wear socks at night).• Low brain endurance and poor focus and concentration.• Must exercise or drink coffee to improve brain function.• Weak nails, white nail beds, and chronic fungal infections in

the nails that are not responsive to anti-fungal treatments. Poor circulation prevents oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to keep your nails healthy.

• Poor capillary refill time — when you press on one of your fingernails then lift the pressure, it should quickly return to pink. If the color is slow to return, that is due to poor circulation.

• Cramping in hands and feet, and sore feet. Poor blood flow causes the muscles to stiffen and cramp easily.


Oxygen is one of the most vital nutrients for the brain. If it’s starved of oxygen for more than just five minutes permanent brain damage results.

improving circulation to the brain to help relieve brain Fog

Improving your circulation can help improve your brain func-tion and thus lift brain fog.

Sometimes, improving circulation requires managing the disorders causing it.

hypothyroidism, poor circulation, and brain FogFor instance, unmanaged hypothyroidism is a common cause

of poor circulation. Hypothyroidism can be devastating to the brain if not managed properly; cold hands and feet, and brain fog are common hypothyroid symptoms.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system gradually destroys the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroid symptoms.

In this case it is imperative that you manage the immune system. Thyroid hormones alone do not address the underlying factors of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

My book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? discusses Hashimoto’s in more detail, as well as other factors that can cause low thyroid function.

http://thyroidbook.com



Managing your hypothyroidism may be a way to improve circulation and relieve symptoms of brain fog.

Other factors that contribute to poor circulation include anemia, high or low blood pressure, and chronic stress.

anemia, poor circulation, and brain Foganemia can be a complex topic and requires proper testing,

as there are different types of anemia, such as pernicious anemia (which prevents the absorption of B12), iron deficiency anemia (which itself has multiple causes, such as leaky gut), or anemia caused by the breakdown of red blood cells (something I’ve seen in athletes who over train).

Other possibilities include uterine fibroids, internal bleeding, chronic disease, liver disease, and genetic disorders.

If you have anemia you will typically be very tired all the time and suffer from depression and lack of motivation.

Anemia is a deal breaker to improving health in general as it means the body is not getting enough of the nutrients or oxygen it needs to function optimally.

Managing your anemia may be a way to improve circulation and relieve symptoms of brain fog.

high or low blood pressureBoth low and high blood pressure impact the amount of

oxygen delivered to your brain. If you have symptoms of poor


brain circulation it is very important for you to check your blood pressure.

Your blood pressure should be around 120/80. If the first or second number is higher or lower than 10 points, then your blood pressure is abnormal. The greater the amount of deviation from 120/80 the worse it is. Although most people focus on high blood pressure, low blood pressure is also an important concern and often overlooked.

Low blood pressure does not push enough blood into brain tissue, which deprives it of sufficient blood and oxygen. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels and thicken arteries, reducing blood flow to the brain.

People with low blood pressure need to investigate strategies to manage adrenal fatigue, particularly in regards to hypogly-cemia. Salting your food and perhaps using a compound called glycrrhiza may help raise your blood pressure to more normal levels.

People with high blood pressure should minimize salt intake, exercise regularly, and reduce stress.

Either way, normalizing blood pressure profoundly impacts the function and health of your brain and can help reduce symptoms of brain fog.

stressStress can lead to brain fog for a number of reasons, but one

overlooked reason is that it inhibits the flow of oxygen to the


brain. This can lead to brain inflammation and accelerated brain degeneration, causing symptoms of brain fog.

Addressing the source of your stress and how you handle it is vital to brain health. This means not only making lifestyle changes but also dietary changes, as factors such as unstable blood sugar and food intolerances increase stress.

A variety of nutritional compounds, adrenal adaptogens and phosphatidylserine in particular, help buffer the effects of stress on the body. You can learn more about these in my book Why Isn’t My Brain Working?

boosting blood Flow to the brain to help relieve brain Fog

Although it’s best to address the underlying causes of poor blood circulation to the brain, there are things you can do to boost blood flow.

One of the best ways is through exercise, particularly intense exercise. Just a few minutes of raising your heart rate as high as you can through high-intensity exercise releases a brain chemical called endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS), which I talk about more in my brain book. It is best to do this in the morning.

eNOS boosts blood flow to the brain, making it a great brain fog buster. (Be careful not to over train, however, as that can work against you.)

http://brainhealthbook.com



compounds to boost blood Flow to the brain to help relieve brain Fog

If you need support boosting blood flow to the brain while addressing underlying causes, fortunately certain nutritional compounds have been shown to aid in this.

I use a combination of feverfew extract, butcher’s broom extract, ginkgo biloba, huperzine, and vinpocetine. These com-pounds have been shown to dilate the cerebral arteries, support circulation in and blood flow to the brain, provide antioxidants that protect brain blood vessels, protect neurons when brain oxygen is low, and improve blood viscosity (how thick or thin blood is).

Although they have been shown to dilate cerebral arteries, they do not increase blood pressure; in fact they can do the opposite. They also work if you have low blood pressure.

They may be helpful in preventing plaque build-up in the arteries and preventing the destruction of blood vessels that can potentially lead to stroke. Vinpocetine in particular has been shown to increase dilation of the cerebral arteries, improve blood viscosity, and protect the neurons in the brain with an antioxidant effect. Studies have shown its use after a head injury increases blood flow to the site of the injury to speed and enhance repair.

People often see relief from symptoms of brain fog when they improve their circulation.

I offer more information in my book Why Isn’t My Brain Working?




5. autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation can cause brain fog

If you have an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, Type 1 diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis, this could be causing your brain fog.

So could chronic inflammation, such as chronic joint pain, gut problems, or skin rashes.

This is because the chronic inflammation and heightened immune activation from these disorders can inflame the brain. You can also have an autoimmune reaction happening in the brain, destroying brain tissue and causing symptoms related to brain fog.

In fact, brain inflammation causes myriad symptoms, including:• Depression• Brain fog• Muddled thinking• Slow mental speed• Poor brain endurance• Fatigue• Brain symptoms triggered by stress, foods, chemicals,

scents, etc.The problem with brain inflammation is it doesn’t have an off

switch like inflammation in the body. This is why head injuries can


cause brain fog, depression and other symptoms years down the road — the inflammation never turned off.

Behind this off-switch problem are special immune cells in the brain, called microglial cells. Microglial cells are activated by inflammation in the gut or elsewhere in the body, triggering an inflammatory response in the brain that feeds on itself and doesn’t turn off when it should. This constant inflammation causes destruction to brain tissue, leading to brain fog.

Autoimmune attacks can also happen in the brain. This means your immune system attacks and destroys brain tissue.

Most people do not know about autoimmunity in the brain but research shows it is more common than people realize.

One of the most common links to brain autoimmunity is gluten. Dairy and other foods can also be a problem.

Brain inflammation is a common cause of brain fog. Factors that cause brain inflammation are (but are not limited to):

• Autoimmunity• Head injury• Stroke• Food sensitivities• Chemical sensitivities• Poor circulation• Blood sugar imbalances• Hormonal imbalances


• Leaky gut• StressFortunately, there are ways to tame brain inflammation. The

most important is to figure out what is causing it and go after that.For instance, you may need to look at food sensitivities, such

as to gluten. If you are a woman or man in middle age, you need to consider hormone levels. Maybe you skip meals or your carbohydrate and sugar consumption is out of control and you need to stabilize your blood sugar. Or maybe you have leaky gut, which also causes leaky brain and brain inflammation (you can do a simple test to find out if you have leaky brain; learn more by clicking here and scrolling down to “The Leaky Brain Challenge”).

In addition to addressing the underlying factors, certain herbs have been shown to quench brain inflammation, which may also help with brain fog. They include:

• Apigenin• Luteolin• Resveratrol• Rutin• Catechin• CurcuminI talk at greater length about brain inflammation in my book

Why Isn’t My Brain Working?, where I also provide references to the scientific studies supporting functional medicine approaches.

http://drknews.com/hashimotos-hypothyroidism-and-how-to-protect-your-brain/

http://drknews.com/hashimotos-hypothyroidism-and-how-to-protect-your-brain/



Video course — Banish Brain Fog: The six-Week brain rescue plan

I know the sheer amount of information related to improving brain health can be overwhelming. For some, it requires a simple change, such as removing gluten from the diet. For others, it requires a more comprehensive dietary and lifestyle overhaul.

The people who most need this information struggle to absorb it due to compromised brain function. This can create a feeling of overwhelm.

https://drknews.com/banish-brain-fog/


For that reason i have created an online video course called Banish Brain Fog: The six-Week Brain rescue plan.

This course will take you step by step through the adjustments you need to make to improve brain health. Even if you flew across the world to visit a practitioner skilled in a functional medicine approach to brain health, you would still be asked to follow these fundamental steps.

Since many people do not have access to a qualified practitio-ner (they are new to the information, too), it’s up to you to take control of your brain health.

no one else is going to save your brain For you, only you can.

I hope you have found this ebook helpful and that it has given you the inspiration to take the steps to save your brain health.

If you have a success story to share, I hope you’ll email it through the site drknews.com or brainhealthbook.com, or thyroidbook.com.

Learn more about my course Banish Brain Fog: The Six-Week Brain Rescue Plan by clicking HERE.



https://drknews.com




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