Carbs and brain performance

[sLd]

Whats up guys.
Stats:
90 kg
180 cm
11-12% BF
21 y/o

So Iam currently cutting and its been great, good results. But when it comes to studying I feel tired and lazy, mainly because of my low carb intake 80g of carbs a day. For some reason if I put some "fast" carbs, like 2 bananas etc. I can focus and study with no problems for like hour or two.

Are carbs the main fuel for our brains? Does any else find hard to study on low carb diets?

I just dont want to eat that much carbs to be able study more effectively while sitting on the sofa, but it seems to be necessary, at least for me.

I would like to hear your oppinions,tips on that.

Thanks

 

[V4mp]

Whats up guys.
Stats:
90 kg
180 cm
11-12% BF
21 y/o

So Iam currently cutting and its been great, good results. But when it comes to studying I feel tired and lazy, mainly because of my low carb intake 80g of carbs a day. For some reason if I put some "fast" carbs, like 2 bananas etc. I can focus and study with no problems for like hour or two.

Are carbs the main fuel for our brains? Does any else find hard to study on low carb diets?

I just dont want to eat that much carbs to be able study more effectively while sitting on the sofa, but it seems to be necessary, at least for me.

I would like to hear your oppinions,tips on that.

Thanks

Carbohydrates are converted into glucose. Glucose is your body's fuel in simplest terms; including your brain.

Is it brain food? Yes, without a single doubt.

Depriving it as you are describing will have profound impact on motor skills, concentration, recalling information and learning. To put it into perspective for you, your brain cells require 2x as much energy as ANY cell in your body to function. This is largely because neurons are in a constant state of arousal.

 

[Mprtz]

Whats up guys.
Stats:
90 kg
180 cm
11-12% BF
21 y/o

So Iam currently cutting and its been great, good results. But when it comes to studying I feel tired and lazy, mainly because of my low carb intake 80g of carbs a day. For some reason if I put some "fast" carbs, like 2 bananas etc. I can focus and study with no problems for like hour or two.

Are carbs the main fuel for our brains? Does any else find hard to study on low carb diets?

I just dont want to eat that much carbs to be able study more effectively while sitting on the sofa, but it seems to be necessary, at least for me.

I would like to hear your oppinions,tips on that.

Thanks

When glycogen is depleted the brain switches to using ketones for fuel. I believe full brain function is possible in this mode (there have been epileptic children who were kept in deep ketosis for long periods of time).

I wouldn't rule out that there are some metal effects associated with the transition.

 

[ksvc]

Lyle McDonald has noted that some people never fully acclimate to ketosis - you may be one of them. Other people, for whatever reason, seem to get a mental boost from ketosis.

In regards to mental effects associated with the transition, there do seem to be some (according to anecdotes), like brain fog and sluggishness.

 

[PrinceDianabol]

Dont quote me on it, but I'm pretty sure the brain and CNS can't run solely on ketones. It needs glucose, something up to like 75% of its energy ?i think? Has to come from glucose, not ketones. So the liver will create more glucose solely for the brain via gluconeogensis.

 

[ksvc]

it's the other way around: 75% of the brain's substrate demands can be met by ketones, while the other 25% must come from glucose

i'd also note that electrolyte loss can be a large component of fatigue. supplementing with adequate amounts of sodium, potassium, and magnesium can help mitigate the tired feeling one has during ketosis