3 Surprising Tricks That May Banish Brain Fog
Trying to finish up that big knitting project but can’t focus? Sneaky cool-weather dehydration may be to blame for that brain fog!
During winter’s chilly months, our thirst response drops by 40 percent, leaving nearly 75 percent of us feeling mentally sluggish. The good news: These rehydration strategies make it easy to breeze through to-do’s!
Do this before your feet first hit the floor.
Want to outsmart fluid loss that occurs overnight, which leads to brain fog? Before bed, mix 8 ounces of water, 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of raw honey, and a pinch of sea salt in a water bottle, then keep it on your nightstand. When you wake up, sip the citrusy drink.
The reason it may work? This drink contains electrolytes, which brim with the trace minerals that rebalance fluids. The result: Your cells may be better able to lock on to hydration, helping you sail through the day feeling sharp. (Click through to see another drink that helps get rid of brain fog fast.)
Spoon up soup.
Digging into a delicious bowl of soup reverses a fluid shortfall in a hurry. Soups and broths are almost entirely water. They are also rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium, which speed fluid absorption within the body. That’s why research shows if you savor 14 ounces of soup, you’ll increase your hydration and mental pep by 40 percent in 30 minutes.
Schedule a siesta.
Turns out indulging in an afternoon snooze keeps hydration levels high and brain fog low. That’s the word from researchers reporting in the journal Sleep, who found that staying well-rested (catnaps count!) may reduce the risk of dehydration. Experts explain the brain makes a hormone (vasopressin) that helps prevent fluid loss. And the more well-rested you are, the more vasopressin your body produces … and the sharper you’ll feel!
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
