Anyone who’s experienced recurrent brain fog knows that it’s no joke — not only are you tired almost all the time, you’re distracted, easily confused, take extra time to process information… it’s almost as though life were moving in slow motion around you.
Though we call it “brain fog”, it’s actually an issue that starts in your stomach — and the foods you eat have a lot to say about whether you’ll be spending your workday in a zombie state or sharp and on your toes.
“Brain fog is usually caused by inflammation in the gut,” said Heather Hanks, nutritionist with Life Insurance Star.
“This is because your gut and brain are in constant communication. When you eat a diet high in inflammatory foods, such as refined sugar and grains, it sends distress signals from your gut to your brain along the vagus nerve, and this can make it hard for you to concentrate, especially right after an inflammatory meal.”
But there are plenty of seemingly healthy foods that could actually cause brain fog — even if you think your diet is as clean as can be.
We’ve rounded up some of the most common “healthy” foods that you should look to if you’re eating healthy but still experiencing symptoms of brain fog.
Probiotic food and drinks
Probiotic food and drinks are all the rage. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
According to Los Angeles-based naturopath Melanie Keller, who bills herself as the Intuitive Edge Doctor, when you have more probiotics in your gut than you need, you suffer what is called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) which is associated with brain fog, chronic fatigue syndrome, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and bloating.
Probiotics are found in fermented foods: cultured milk and yoghurt, tempeh, miso, kimchi, and sauerkraut, as well as prebiotic foods (i.e., foods that encourage the growth of gut bacteria), such as asparagus, garlic, onions, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, tomato, milk, wheat, rye, and barley.
Grains and legumes
Even the foods our doctors — and mums — always encouraged us to eat can be a problem.
“Grains and legumes, such as peas, peanut butter, chickpeas, and rice, are examples of healthy foods that may cause brain fog,” said Hanks.
“These foods are seemingly healthy on paper — they are high in fibre and antioxidants and low in saturated fats. However, grains, beans, and legumes contain compounds known as anti-nutrients that bind to the digestive tract, induce inflammation, and prevent the absorption of some minerals.”
Hanks suggested avoiding grains, beans, and legumes for a while and sticking with lean meats and vegetables.
If you notice that you have more energy than you once did after this diet shift, then it might be a good idea to avoid beans, grains, and legumes indefinitely.
Gluten
Processed convenience foods like protein and meal-replacement bars have gotten more popular over the years. These are often made with inflammatory ingredients like refined carbohydrates, dairy, and gluten.
According to Lisa Richards, nutritionist and author of The Candida Diet, inflammatory foods like these can cause brain fog, fatigue, and mood issues.
“Cutting out gluten may be a great first start for many individuals suffering with this symptom,” said Richards.
“Consider having a fruit smoothie on work days. Blueberries and other berries rich in antioxidants increase short and long-term cognition. Their antioxidant abilities enable them to fight free-radical damage, especially in the brain.”
