[theold]

People recovering from Covid, or those with long Covid, talk about having ‘brain fog’ – a non-medical term used by people when they feel spaced out, sluggish or fuzzy. As well as the result of inflammation, this could also be because, as new research shows, the virus damages the mitochondria of our brain cells – the powerhouses of our cellular energy. Mitochondria make up 10 per cent of our body weight, and provide more than 95 per cent of our energy for all bodily functions, from fighting infection to metabolising food.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitne...o-prevent/

The following measures are backed up by research:

Lower your calorie intake (but not your intake of nutrients)
This reduces the output of reactive oxygen species which drive inflammation and cellular damage. Aim to establish a healthy calorie range to prevent overeating – a reduction of about 10 per cent is recommended.

Fast intermittently
Intermittent fasting supports the mitochondrial network by removing damaged mitochondria and triggering biogenesis (manufacture) of new mitochondria.

Avoid regular sugar ‘boosts’
Astonishingly, certain neurons in the brain ‘feel’ a sudden rise in glucose levels (a ‘sugar rush’). Their mitochondria rapidly change their shape and structure and this can lead to profound overall metabolic change such as type 2 diabetes. Lowering the consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars will remove this pressure on our precious mitochondria.

Eat healthy foods
Certain foods contain nutrients which support healthy brain cells by boosting their enzymes. Examples are omega-3 fatty acids (cold-water, fatty fish), alpha-lipoic acid (grass-fed red meat, liver, spinach, broccoli), and L-cartinine and creatinine (lean red meat, poultry, eggs, nuts, beans, seeds).

Take regular exercise
This will force your brain cells to generate energy, and is especially important as we get older, because there is an incipient loss of mitochondria as we age (1–2 per cent per year from middle age onwards). Exercise will reduce this trend and even reverses mitochondrial loss. After a period of consistent exercise mitochondria increase in number and are more capable of generating energy. Do what you can - from a brisk walk with the dog, to an hour’s hard work in the garden.

Take regular saunas
Try two or three times a week for 10-15 minutes at a time. Research has shown that increasing the temperature of muscle tissue increases the efficiency of mitochondria.

Get a good night’s sleep
This is about more than not feeling tired. Hormones such as corticosteroids, which act to regulate our mitochondria, are extremely sensitive to the disruption of our daily rhythms. Relaxation and meditation can play a part in keeping our mitochondria healthy by reducing the psychological effects of stress hormones, such as cortisol.

Try essential oils
Research has found that carvacrol, found commonly in the essential oils of thyme, oregano, black cumin and wild bergamot has been reported to inhibit the activity of ACE2 proteins - thus blocking the entry of the Covid virus - and has anti-viral, anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immune-moderating properties.