Best Mushroom for Brain Fog

Brain fog is a common experience for many people. It is known as a cloudy-headed feeling that impairs focus and attention. Recently, people have turned to functional mushrooms as a way to reduce brain fog and its symptoms.

In today€™s working climate, the value goes beyond hard work and putting in more hours. We are at a time when attributes such as creativity, alertness, and adaptability are highly valued. Hence, the need for nootropics or smart drugs such as mushrooms.

Keep reading to learn more about the best functional mushrooms to use to combat brain fog.

Key Takeaways

• brain fog is a condition where you feel that you can€™t think clearly or focus on a specific task.
• brain fog can be caused by poor sleep, poor diet, stress, or hormonal imbalances.
• Some of the best functional mushrooms for brain fog are lion€™s mane, turkey tail, and reishi.

What are brain fog and its Symptoms?

brain fog is exactly what it sounds like; a cloudy feeling in your head. It is what doctors refer to as "cognitive dysfunction." In her book "Beating brain fog," Sabina Brennan describes brain fog as a "collection of symptoms which give rise to loss of mental clarity or foggy thinking."

Confusion, forgetfulness, and lack of focus are the main symptoms resulting from brain fog. You may also experience trouble remembering things, slower reaction times, and difficulty making decisions.

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness can happen due to stress, medication, or tiredness. It could also mean that you are suffering from brain fog. Therefore, we recommend consulting with a physician in case of any underlying conditions.

Brain fog seems to cloud memories and weaken mental sharpness. In addition, it impairs the easy recall of simple things that are easy to remember in normal situations.

Lack of Focus

The inability to maintain focus is among the obvious symptoms of brain fog. It may be due to stress, anxiety, too much caffeine, or poor sleep. Lack of focus may disrupt optimal functioning in some people.

Fatigue

Fatigue is the number one reason for irritability, poor performance, and focus, which are all signs of brain fog. The remedy is to ensure that you get enough sleep. Remember that fatigue goes hand in hand with stress, and the more fatigued, the higher the chances of stress.

What are the Main Causes of Brain Fog?

To treat brain fog, you want to understand the root cause of it first. Several factors could trigger a foggy mind. Lack of rest, increased stress levels, and hormonal imbalances can lead to this overwhelming state of mind.

Stress

A2019 study reveals that stress and anxiety are among the cause of detrimental effects on cognitive processes. The research shows that stress negatively impacts neuroplasticity and learning.

Excessive stress is among the common causes of brain fog due to vasoconstriction. Reduced blood flow to the brain due to vasoconstriction causes forgetfulness, confusion, low concentration, and other brain fog symptoms.

Brain fog from stress is quite similar to brain fog due to anxiety. Both lead to confusion as the brain is occupied with anxious thoughts, leaving little to no room for other activities. This usually stops after the source of anxiety or stress is resolved.

Poor Sleep

Constant lack of enough sleep may be a reason why you experience brain fog. Poor sleep causes irritability and may also contribute to forgetfulness. Studies suggest that sleep deprivation affects the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other.

Getting enough time for REM and non-REM sleep is crucial for your mental health. You want to avoid staying up between 10 pm and 2 am. Sleeping during these hours is crucial since it is when the body and the brain detoxify the most.

Poor sleep may cause temporary memory lapses that may affect your memory and visual perception. It may also make it hard to remember things and think clearly. The best way to avoid it is by ensuring you experience full sleep cycles throughout the night.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal change is a common occurrence throughout your life. Menopause, pregnancy, or even change in your physical environment are common causes of hormonal imbalance. Such periods may lead to fuzziness and confusion.

Astudy showed that sixty percent of women experience difficulty concentrating during menopause. Other causes of hormonal imbalance are diet, medications, and stress.

Malnutrition

Proper diet and nutrition are essential for both mental and physical health. Vitamins and minerals such as B-12 help better focus. Foods like carbohydrates, proteins, and fat are also necessary for better brain function.

Vitamin B-12, found in beef, chicken, milk, yogurt, and fish, helps the central nervous system's red blood cell formation and maintenance. Its deficiency lowers your energy levels, leaving an overall feeling of fatigue.

Lacking vitamin D also impairs cognitive function. In addition, food intolerance may also be the cause of the foggy head feeling. Gluten intolerance, for instance, may lead to inflammatory pathways, hence cognitive dysfunction.

COVID Brain Fog

Researchers have discovered that brain fog can also be caused by COVID. It was among the most common symptoms to emerge during the first months of the pandemic. According to recentreports, 20-30% experience brain fog three months after the infection.

In addition, up to 85% of long COVID patients have brain fog. Brain fog is not only associated with COVID alone, but also with other diseases and disorders. People with celiac disease, for instance, may experience brain fog after gluten consumption.

Heavy Metal Exposure

Exposure to heavy metal happens more often than you can imagine. Heavy metal exists everywhere, from teeth fillings to beauty products and food. While little amounts of such metals do not cause toxicity, accumulation may cause hormonal imbalance and fatigue.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation is among the leading causes of brain fog. The main source of these electromagnetic waves in recent times is electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.

According to IARC, radiofrequency electromagnetic fields may be carcinogenic to humans. Studies have shown that exposing the cranial nervous system to RF-EMF could cause neurological effects, including headaches, dizziness, poor concentration, and memory loss.

Toxins and Pollution

Environmental toxins and pollution may be the reason for your brain fog. Indoor pollution like pollen, pet dander, and some cleaning products may impact the brain negatively. Other types of pollution, including smoke, may increase the risk of mental health disorders.

Best Mushroom for Brain Fog

Mushrooms are generally beneficial for your brain. However, the best mushrooms for brain fog are lion€™s mane, reishi, turkey tail, and cordyceps. They all possess individual properties that affect your brain.

Lion€™s Mane

Lion€™s mane (Hericium Erinaceus) is an excellent choice for focus and memory. It contains seventy bioactive metabolites that can benefit your body in several ways. Traditionally, lion€™s mane has been used to improve mental health and support cognitive ability.

It supports nerve health by promoting the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) production. In return, the higher production of NGF allows for possible growth improvement of the protective myelin sheath surrounding the nerves.

Lion€™s mane may also help reduce anxious thoughts by regenerating brain cells for better emotional responses and reducing physiological changes due to stress. It may also lower inflammation, facilitating hormone growth and development.

Lion€™s Mane and Neurogenesis

Hericenones and Erinacines are among the seventy bioactive compounds found in lion€™s mane. They are guilty of stimulating nerve growth factor proteins and promoting neurite growth, cognitive impairment prevention, and neurogenesis.

Research has not revealed much about the effects lion€™s mane has on neurogenesis. However, available research suggests that it possesses powerful neurotrophic properties. Astudy in 2021 on the effects of four compounds in lion€™s mane on brain health suggests that the fungus promotes the formation of new brain cells.

Reishi

Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum) is a medicinal mushroom that has been in use for years. It helps fight brain fog and insomnia, and also prevents fatigue. It assists in promoting focus, boosts immunity, and has also shown antidepressant effects on rats in some studies.

In a study from 2017, researchers observed the neuroprotective effects of reishi mushrooms. They found that the polysaccharides found in the fungi regulate your oxidative stress response.

Adding reishi mushrooms to your diet will help maintain a healthier brain. Some people even use it instead of Xanax. You want to combine it with other adaptogenic mushrooms for excellent results.

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail is a famous adaptogen found in wooded areas in the U.S. It grows on tree trunks and looks like a turkey's tail, hence the name. Its caps have colorful horizontal stripes that almost look feathered.

Boosting the immune system is one of the benefits of the turkey tail, as well as protecting cells against free radicals.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps contains multiple bioactive compounds that help improve and maintain brain health. However, it has an impressive ability to give a quick energy boost and relieve brain fog.

It works similarly to caffeine, leaving you alert and focused after consumption. However, it does not make you jittery or anxious, unlike caffeine. It is common among athletes to improve performance, energy, and recovery.

Chaga

The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) contains high antioxidants and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. There was a study in 2021 to show the protective effects of its polysaccharides in the brain.

The study found that chaga mushrooms exert antiapoptotic and antioxidative activities. They help protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, chaga mushrooms are beneficial for skin health.

Shiitake

Shiitake is a highly nutritional fungus that contains both antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Astudy found that the polysaccharides present in shiitake could help control the decline in immunity resulting from aging.

In addition, shiitake is rich in vitamin D, B, and zinc. It is beneficial for immune health, liver, and heart health. It contains eritadenine, steroids, and beta-glucans that improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels.

How to Treat Brain Fog

Treating brain fog will depend on its root cause. The best way to get rid of brain fog altogether is to have a healthy diet and a healthier lifestyle. When you understand what leads to your brain fog, it will be easier for you to treat it. Nonetheless, the methods mentioned below are effective in its treatment.

Proper Exercise and Sleep

Enough sleep is crucial when it comes to treating brain fog. You want to ensure that your brain gets enough rest to improve its cognitive abilities. This will ensure that you stay alert and focused throughout the day making it easier to achieve a flow state.

Exercising is also a way to treat brain fog. It alerts your brain and keeps you active. In addition, proper exercise betters your sleep quality.

Proper Diet

Adding mushrooms and vitamins to your meals will reduce your chances of brain fog. Mushrooms such as lion€™s mane will better your mental health and prevent brain fog. Also, remember to include proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Supplements to Help Stop Brain Fog

Besides mushrooms, supplements such as fish oil, L-Theanine, and Ginkgo Biloba Extract will help stop brain fog. Fish oil, for instance, helps improve brain function, motor skills, and vision. Ensure to take the right amount of such supplements with proper meals.

What is the Best Mushroom for Inflammation?

Medicinal mushrooms can relieve inflammation. Turkey tail, oyster mushrooms, and chaga mushrooms may help reduce symptoms of inflammation. However, the best mushroom for inflammation is cordyceps.

Where to Find Fog Lifting Supplements Online

We recommend getting your supplements at VYU. Our supplements have a unique combination of all-natural ingredients that help boost mood and energy. Proper doses of products like our TUNE IN beverage may help you stay away from brain fog and instead supercharge your energy and focus, increasing your productivity.

The TUNE IN beverage that you can get on pre-sale is designed to help with productivity and focus throughout the day. It combines functional mushrooms like lion€™s mane and cordyceps with other nootropics and adaptogens like ashwagandha, L-teacrine, and bacopa monnieri to nourish your brain with everything it needs for peak performance.