What Triggers Brain Fog and Forgetfulness

Ask any woman of middle age, and I guarantee she will recall a time when she thought she was losing her mind! Do you find yourself using words like ‘thingamejiggy’ or ‘’whatsherface’?

It could be that you forgot where you put your keys, why you walked into a room, mixed up the kids names, or the very common complete confusion about where you parked your car at the shopping centre convinced that someone had stolen it!  

What about the extended pause when forgetting a word midway through a conversation while your brain is doing backflips to find it?  That’s usually the moment we recognise that something isn’t quite right, and combined with a variety of other subtle signs, it might be time to come out of denial and embrace the inevitable onset of menopause!

As the body’s estrogen levels decrease, which happens during peri menopause and menopause, estrogen can no longer participate in brain function as it normally had.  This can be the cause of occasional lapses in brain function, resulting in short-term memory loss.

Menopause also lowers the level of glucose in the brain, the primary fuel used by brain cells.  The brain then looks to other metabolic sources to provide the necessary fuel to function, that is, the brain adapts to a new hormonal environment in order to maintain functioning.

Memory loss and cognitive decline is not exclusive to women.  Men also face neurological changes with age, but the good news is that midlife ‘brain fog’ is treatable. Ruling out any severe underlying health issues, simple forgetfulness can be treated with a diversity of modalities.

In recent years, one of the most popularly promoted mind exercises has been Sudoku.  It primarily improves concentration, memory, and recall, plus it’s a fun thing to do instead of staring mindlessly at the television. Other brain training exercises include doing jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, board games and learning another language.

Another new finding has shown the benefit of exercise to boost memory, but it needs to be the kind of exercise that gets your heart racing and sweat glands pumping.  Aerobic exercise appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning.  Interestingly, resistance training, balance and muscle toning exercises did not have the same results.  This is another reminder for us to participate in a variety of movement on a daily basis.

Supplements are an ideal solution when our organs are deficient in the nutrients they require to function optimally. They play an important role in boosting performance in times of need.

Meno Mind has been thoughtfully created to improve cognitive health, support blood flow to the brain and enhance memory.  The five natural ingredients including traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic and European nerve tonics combine synergistically to improve mental performance.

Panax Ginseng or Korean Ginseng is commonly known as the ‘king of tonics’ and it’s botanical name from Greek origins is just as impressive, meaning áll-heal’.  The best quality ginseng root comes from a plant that must be grown for 5 years before it can be used for medicinal purposes.  It is classified in traditional Western and Asian herbalism as an adaptogen that counteracts imbalances in the body brought about by stress.  Its traditional use is to increase resistance to emotional stress while improving concentration, clarity and memory recall, as well as relieving mental exhaustion.

Gingko Biloba leaves contain high levels of antioxidants which are essential for neutralising the damaging effects of free radicals.  This is important because those free radicals have the potential to damage healthy cell tissue. Gingko has also been evaluated for its ability to have a positive effect on mental recall and cognitive function.

Brahmi is a small succulent herb found at altitudes of 4400 feet above sea level.  It’s a unique herb traditionally used to support brain health, its high in antioxidants and helps reduce the damaging effects from free radicals. Brahmi has traditionally been used as a nerve tonic for the relief of mild anxiety and to help cope with stress.

Rosemary is the traditional ‘herb of remembrance’. Its reputation throughout the Western world for mental concentration, clarity, focus and headache relief has stood the test of time.

Schisandra has vine berries of purple/red that have been used for medicinal purposes throughout Russia for generations.  In traditional Chinese medicine it is considered beneficial for ‘qi’ the life-force or energy inherent in all living things.  Schisandra helps the body adapt to stress, enhances cognitive performance, increases physical exercise performance, and relieves weariness and symptoms of fatigue.  The other added benefit of these berries is that they serve to support liver function by alleviating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation.

Together these scientifically researched ingredients in Meno Mind provide your body and brain with a therapeutic level of powerful stimulants to help you retain the memory of an elephant, and who doesn’t want to be the ‘sharpest tool in the shed’?!