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Don't eat that, it will make you stupid
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© Vertes Edmond Mihai | Dreamstime.com
More than one study is showing us that what we eat can really impact our ability to think.
Something in one study that I found quite interesting is that extroverts tend to feel a need for a nap after a meal more than others. I've been a flaming extrovert all my life and always feel the need for a rest after eating. My family will attest that I was never good at doing the dishes immediately following a meal.
But I'd never thought much about how food affects our brains, especially how we think.
MSNBC reports, "The brain, which accounts for 2 percent of our body weight, sucks down roughly 20 percent of our daily calories. A picky eater, it demands a constant supply of glucose, primarily obtained from recently eaten carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, grains etc.). Only in extreme instances of deprivation will the brain use other substances for fuel."
You nutritionists probably already knew that, but I didn't, and found it fascinating.
When they say "glucose," of course they don't mean sugar that we ingest in the processed form. They mean fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Even then, we don’t want to eat only complex carbs. A high concentration of any type of food is horrible for our bodies, including the brain. High glucose (in combination with a certain hormone) particularly clouds our thinking. "In other words, don't get out the flash cards after that second (or third) piece of cake."
What it boils down to I guess is that brains need a balanced diet, just like the rest of the body. So when my thinking gets fuzzy and memory goes on the fritz, I’ll stop blaming my age. Perhaps the culprit is the giant Snickers bar I had for lunch.
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