Are my hormones responsible for my brain fog?
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As a current mother-to-be, I have been experiencing pregnancy brain fog. No one prepares you for how hormonal shifts can affect your thought process! We’re here to understand the different causes of brain fog in women. Not only does that feeling of forgetting your train of thought happen during pregnancy, but mothers experience this, people during menopause and even perimenopause have these moments. I just think that my mind needs a few moments to go through her rolodex of words to create a full sentence. There’s research about the causes of brain fog in women but not enough talk about how it really affects us day-to-day. Let’s dive into our topic and learn more about what causes brain fog.
Summary
What is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is exactly what it sounds like, feeling as if you do not have a clear mind or things are fuzzy, you mean even be forgetful.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Women who are pregnant can experience brain fog due to the hormone, progesterone, can create a sedative effect in women.
Perimenopause & Menopause
There is a decline in estrogen levels when women go through the perimenopause and menopause stage of life.
Management
Some recommended adjustments are getting enough rest, eating foods with high antioxidant components, more omega-3s, and adding in light to moderate exercise.
what is brain fog?
Brain fog is exactly what it sounds like: a feeling as if you do not have a clear mind, which can be due to hormonal changes, bad sleep hygiene, effects of pregnancy, high anxiety, and other factors.
Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Brain Fog
Women who are pregnant can experience brain fog due to the hormone progesterone, which can create a sedative effect in women. During pregnancy, women feel like they cannot stay awake, focus on the task in front of them, which can be frustrating. Estrogen, another important hormone, increases during pregnancy, and during postpartum, there is a rapid decrease in estrogen, which results in brain fog.
Perimenopause, Menopause, and Brain Fog
Fluctuating estrogen levels are the cause of those pesky menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and brain fog in women. The inability to stay focused, memory issues, and even confusion go hand-in-hand with menopausal fatigue. As women get older, there is a decline in estrogen levels, which is why women experience lapses in memory, fatigue, and even anxiety.
“Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you– in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment."
– Jan Chozen Bays
How to Manage Brain Fog
Just because we experience brain fog, doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to manage it by altering some things we do on a daily basis. Some recommended adjustments are getting enough rest, eating foods with high antioxidant components, more omega-3s, and adding in light to moderate exercise routines can help you manage those brain fog moments. Lastly, give yourself time to adjust to this change. You will get through it.
Nutrition recommendations:
- Berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries.
- Kale, spinach, artichokes
- Nuts
- Dark chocolate!
- Fish high in omega-3s such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines
Workout Tips:
- Daily walks are the easiest form of movement- put on your headphones and sync up your playlist or a good podcast!
- Pilates- mat and reformer are excellent in stretching your body and challenging it with slow controlled pacing
- Yoga- anything from yin yoga to a full-body flow will get your blood moving.
- Strength training: lifting weights, squat rack, or doing a workout class makes your body challenge itself with added weights
"So many women I've talked to see menopause as an ending. But I've discovered this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else. It's your opportunity to get clear about what matters to you and then to pursue that with all of your energy, time and talent."
– Oprah Winfrey
Ingredients in Her Bio’s Blends for brain fog
There’s plenty of different supplements out there, but at Her Bio, your unique blend comes with support for your brain fog moments.
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9
We’ve included Magnesium, which has been shown to reduce inflammation of the brain and prevent oxidative stress. This basically means that magnesium can assist in preserving cognition as women navigate past menopause.
Here’s a set of vitamins that pack a punch- the B vitamin family, specifically B6, B9, and B12. These B vitamins are imperative for cognitive function and a healthy brain. These vitamins help process an amino acid called homeocystine which is connected to cognitive decrease when elevated in the body. We include B6 and B9 in our formulations because of the many benefits it holds in addition to providing a healthy brain.
These ingredients don’t just assist in reducing brain fog in women, but they have other benefits! On our website, we’ve got an ingredient library to help you understand the key benefits of the ingredients we use in our blends. Understanding your health shouldn’t be a guessing game, so let us help you on this journey.
you’re going to be okay.
The brain fog won’t last forever, but I get that it can be impeding on how you live your daily life. It can be even more frustrating knowing that there is not an exact time frame on how soon it will go away and you’ll feel yourself again. Just trust that your body needs some time to navigate a new normal for a little while. You’ve got this love!
FAQs about Brain Fog in Women
Is brain fog normal for all women?
The short answer is no. Brain fog is most commonly associated with women during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Hormonal changes are a significant part of this temporary phase so just know that it’ll pass.
Is there a cure for brain fog?
No, there is not a cure for brain fog. There are realistic changes we can make to help manage the brain fog such as- nutritional changes, adding a consistent movement routine, supplements, and even hormone replacement therapy if your medical provider recommends it.
How long does brain fog last?
Brain fog normally depends on your current situation. If you’re pregnant, it can last through postpartum, even a few years after. Women experiencing perimenopause and menopause can experience this fog for a few years. But if you start experiencing symptoms that persist beyond memory function even with changes to your lifestyle or different therapies, you should speak with your medical provider about other causes of symptoms.
Why Personalisation Matters:
Every woman is distinct, and your supplement needs are unique. Our quiz considers your individual health, symptoms, and lifestyle to create a supplement blend that aligns with your cycle and fitness goals.
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