Have you ever watched the fog roll off a lake? It isn't clear one moment and thick the next. It comes in slowly, in little wisps. At first, vision is slightly hazy, but you can see for long distances. It gradually flows over you, just a little thicker, a little heavier, a little cooler, until you realize you can't see very far at all. "Brain Fog" isn't a lot different. Rarely is your brain — your memory, your ability to recall words, the sharpness of thought — there one day and gone the next. It starts in little wisps, becoming murkier, gradually disappearing, until the time comes that it becomes so problematic that you seek help to resolve it.

When looking for resolution, first of all, the many contributing diseases must be ruled out. Medications can contribute to "foggy" thinking. Many see their doctors and are told "it's just your age." What about those who are younger than "old?"

When foggy thinking is incipient — beginning to appear — look first at lifestyle. Do you have so much going on that you just can't seem to keep it all together in your head? Are you tired? Sleep deprivation and other forms of fatigue can certainly result in diminished mental return. If your energy is low, you have to discover why that is happening first, because until you resolve your fatigue, the chance of clearing the mental fog is pretty unlikely.

One aspect of lifestyle that tends to be a little hazy is that of diet. Sometimes we prefer to be in the clouds about the fact that what we eat has a great deal to do with how our brain operates and how much energy we have. That is because to clear the fog, we have to take a clear look at what we're eating, and then change it. Change is difficult for many people, but if your mental smog is preventing you from enjoying life, what other choice do you have?

Your brain operates on certain nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. To have a healthy brain, you have to have healthy amounts of these raw materials necessary for the construction of healthy brain cells and healthy function. Notice the common denominator? Healthy. Artificial, synthetic, fake vitamins don't help. Minerals in a form that the body can't absorb, don't help. Proteins that are cooked to death, are only partially helpful and carbohydrates? Well, that's in a class of its own.

There is much we can do to reduce the fogginess of the mind. It takes a ray of sunshine (knowing it's possible), a little heat (change), and doing things in the proper order of nature. Learn more at our upcoming class, Brain Fog, Poor Memory & Lack of Concentration, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208) 765-1994

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Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’Alene clinic. Visit www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about her, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.