Chemistry for the day: The brain loves sugar

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Avatar for Hanzell
4 years ago

First, let’s talk about sugars because it’s a general idea that sugar is only the table sugar placed on the table but no, there exists a number of sugars which come from fruits, vegetables, wheat and grains, anything starchy even. Sugar is not necessarily sweet but it actually has a variation in sweetness but regardless of this, we all still love sugar.

Especially the human brain, the brain really loves sugar; it consumes almost 60% of the total body’s sugar when in a state of consciousness and at least 20-23% when unconscious. That’s how important sugar is to the brain since the organ has the most number of cells and cellular connections so that’s why. In addition to that, the brain can’t store sugar unlike in other cells. The brain gathers its sugar needs from what’s available in the blood thus why maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is important.

Does this mean it’s fine to eat a lot of sweets?

Well that would depend on your bodily needs but it would still be best not to. Of course possible development of diabetes is a given but then what else could go wrong?

Sugar is addicting

I think this goes without being said but I have to say it. Everyone is addicted to sugar in one way or another. Which is why we can’t live without rice, or bread or any forms of carbs really, and fruits and veggies too. But hen how is sugar addicting? Well research has shown that dopamine and opioid levels increase just after in taking sugary materials. Opioids are responsible for one’s pleasure and the brain’s reward function (it gives a feeling of happiness or joy when activated). So if sugar can artificially trigger your opioid level and your brain’s reward function, slowly, you’ll need higher and higher dosage of sugar to be able to experience the same feeling of pleasure that your brain craves for, thus the first steps in making someone an addict, really.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327512#Why-sugar-may-be-addictive-after-all

Sugar can cause mental disorders

As much as sugar can make one happy, an elevated level of sugar intake is linked to the development of depression, mostly explained by the above statement on how the brain’s reward function is impaired (the harder it is to get pleasure, the more it contributes to depression). But then it also is a prospective cause of anxiety and sadness, especially with people who have type2  diabetes (a lot of old papers say that “sugar rush” thing is a reason why but I really don’t think so). Studies also show that people who regularly consume a high dosage of sugary food are more prone to mental disorders than those who have their sugar levels in check.

Excess sugar impairs your learning capacity

An excess of sugar in the blood stream can impair or slow down your cognitive function and even affect your memory and attention. How does this happen? Well sugar can harm blood vessels, in the brain though, it targets major areas that use up much sugar then the eyes (this explains why people with diabetes are prone to having bad eyesight). In addition, there had been studies that show how a high sugar diet reduces the brain production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), it’s what makes new memory formation and learning possible. This is also a reason why it’s thought that high sugar diets can also cause Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4 years ago

Comments

Glucose is the only fuel of brain. Though other parts of the body can use fatty acid , ketone bodies as well brain is the exception here to have the permission to use only one kind of fuel. A thousand sympathy for brain haha.. However your writing hand is excellent.

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4 years ago

The brain can also utilize ketone bodies by bypassing the first few steps in your glycoglysis cycle but it would take a really long adjustment period and should not be continued on the long run

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4 years ago

So that is where all sweets I eat are going 😂. I personally don’t have sweet that much but occasionally can’t resist the urge

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4 years ago

Well a good sugar rush is needed sometimes. Even i often crave sweets when my brain gets overused

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4 years ago

Me too when I am too tired or I eat really late then my brain tells me to eat something sweet with my food

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4 years ago

That means your brain needd more fuel 😂 you overuse your brain a lot

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4 years ago

Lol. Yes sugar is kind of a fuel for my brain I guess. It needs to be recharged 😂😂

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4 years ago

Same same ^-^ i always munch on something sweet when i work 😂 luckily i don't get fat

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4 years ago

Thats good. I gained some weight lately but now planning a strict diet to go bat to my normal self

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4 years ago

Or you keep using your brain. Overthinkers rarely get fat, actually... because diets will just really make you crave sugar more

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4 years ago

Oh really. Never knew that, and this is some really useful information for me

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4 years ago

Yes, a hyperactive brain will always be better than exercise somehow but then it's not good for the mental health 😂

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4 years ago

True there are always pros and cons of things. So may be my slim friend who eats a pot has a hyperactive mind 😂😂

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4 years ago

Nah, i think it coulb be hyperthyroidism because that's usually the case for very skinny people who can eat a lot

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4 years ago

Could be. I am not a doctor or researcher like you so don’t know much 😂.

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4 years ago

Luckily I don't have a sweet tooth.

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4 years ago

How's your carb intake though? Because those are also rich in sugars XD

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4 years ago

Kaya pala sumasayaw ako pag kumakain nang munchin sa dunkin donuts or kumakain ng saging lol. Opioids pala responsible neto 👍☺️

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4 years ago

Yess, it's naturally occurring in the brain eh and it gets triggered a lot from sugar. That's why sweets is life ❤

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4 years ago

Although I'm in a student of chemistry but it's me bored. Chemistry was my favourite subject but now bored on this 😒😒

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4 years ago

Really now? I just write it in a way that's more understandable but i don't think chemistry is at all boring. I'm also a chemist and i like it when normal occurences are given a logical explanation

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4 years ago

chemistry was my favourite subject 😁 but last semester on my scl i get only 33 on it😐

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4 years ago

I'm gald you see its beauty :"))) it's a cool subject indeed

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4 years ago

yes very cool and good also😆💖

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4 years ago

Let me open your eyes to the brillant world of chemistry more 😂😂😂😂😂

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4 years ago

sure

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4 years ago

Don't know ,how they survive who are on dieting.

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4 years ago

Well, it's mostly just will power and discipline and a different energy source. You still have sugar stored as fat, after all so that's why intermittent diets and keto diets are around

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4 years ago

I just discouraging excessive dieting,anorexia..as you say glucose is food for brain.i have watch several girls faint out during working hour as their sugar became nil and they were on dieting.

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4 years ago

Such an informative post 👍 Very nice👌

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4 years ago

Thank you, dear ^-^

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4 years ago

Good instructive post ☺ I also love chemistry . Through your article we can know an interesting topic that's very helpful for all of us. Carry on bro ☺

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4 years ago

I don't know about instructive but i hoped to inform people about sugar though

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4 years ago

love this one thanks for sharing this.

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4 years ago

Thank you for checking this out ^-^ i appreciate it

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4 years ago

One of the authors that I love here in readcash 💞 I learned something today. Hihi

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User's avatar Yen
4 years ago

Thank you mommy yen >w<

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4 years ago

Yeah sugar is also essential to our body. Just don't take too much though. 😁

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4 years ago

Very true ^-^ as for me, i usually have low sugar levels, it gets used up way too fast

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4 years ago

You can eat natural sources of sugar, not the table sugar... hehe

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4 years ago

I know, there's that from basically any other food besides table sugar, it's just that i don't eat rice much so i get low sugar

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4 years ago

Don't deprive yourself into something which you will regre at the end... I also eat a cup of rice only, but it only made me crave more carbs and sugar...

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4 years ago

I'm mostly used to it now since it's been months into maintaining the diet but yeah, the lack of sugar really make you crave more because it's not easy for the brain to adjust to a different sugar source

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4 years ago

Esp if you're working.. you easily get low sugar...

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4 years ago

Well yeah, you ise too much brain power at work, after all

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4 years ago

Exactly.. and tired physically.. carbs somehow gives you energy...

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4 years ago

That or just make you sleepier after eating carbs 😂😂😂

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4 years ago

Not at all... carbohydrates is a source of energy. It will fuel your brain, muscles and central nervous system.

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4 years ago

Yeah but not right away, it will make you sleepy furst as you digest because oxygen requirements get diverted to the digestive system so a lowered oxygen supply to the brain will make you sleepy

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4 years ago

Well yeah.... what i did after eating is stand up for few minutes so i won't feel sleepy..

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4 years ago

I still get sleepy 😂 so i always have to take a mid day nap

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4 years ago

This is well written. On the whole, you have a good ability to explain things so it doesn't require a scientist to understand it. That is my own goal as well. When I write for laypeople, it must be understandable for a generally well-educated and interested layperson. That is sometimes a challenge, because it is very easy to become too scientific. On the other hand, one must not simplify too much - so that's a delicate balance. But you have the ability to keep exactly that balance. You are most welcome to submit more material to this community.

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4 years ago

Thank you sir 😊 we were usually required to do volunteer lectures for different groups of people regularly so we really had to learn how to make it that everyone will understand but still get your point across. Even our undergrad thesis needed to be simplified because after the actual defense (the technical parts), we had to present to the university. It's really cool to see that my acience post are very much welcomed in your community

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4 years ago

Ahh just a reminder that sweetness can be destructive sometimes haha. Nice article!

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4 years ago

Well in excess amounts but then everything in excess will always be destructive

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4 years ago

Yes. This is why, we cannot stop, and get fat.

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4 years ago

Definitely 😂 sugar in anything is way too good

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4 years ago

Thanks for sharing this. Very nice article.It really needed everyone to know. I learned some important information from this post.❤

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4 years ago

Thank you for that praise. I hope you stay tuned for the next ones 😂 i have such a long list of things i wantdd to write about

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4 years ago

Sure. ☺ I will always be by your side.🤗

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4 years ago

Yiieee that's so sweet >w<

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4 years ago

🤗🤗♥

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4 years ago

As a chemist, i can say excellent article, but if you allow a little notice, article is for common public maybe to professional

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4 years ago

It is for the general public but then you seem to underestimate the masses a bit. Which was why i didn't include mechanism or mode of action alcohol takes to kill so-called germs. Just the point that gasoline shouldn't be used as a disinfectant

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4 years ago