07 March 2017, 09:00
Can hard mental work replace a workout at the gym? Scientists have suggested that intellectual stress exhausts the brain in the same way that vigorous exercise exhausts the body. In addition, it is known that any mental activity causes an additional flow of blood, oxygen and glucose.
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Even at rest, the brain absorbs an enormous amount of energy. But what happens to him in moments of solving complex problems? As it turns out, short periods of extra mental effort require only slightly more calories than the brain needs to maintain normal activity.
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How many calories does the brain burn?
Even though the weight of the brain is only 2% of the total body weight, it takes up approximately 20% of our basal metabolic rate. For example, if a person needs 1600 kcal to maintain life at rest, 300 of them are consumed by the brain.
As studies show, intense mental work for 1–2 hours requires slightly more fuel. Some scientists still consider the results of such experiments to be biased, because the research conditions are too humane. As a rule, participants are asked to complete a single task of medium difficulty, rather than take many hours of a grueling exam. It is due to prolonged mental stress and stress that we complain about the state of a “squeezed lemon”.
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How to make the brain burn more calories?
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The more effort you make to concentrate, the greater the energy costs. If you want to lose a couple of pounds without getting up from your computer, diversify your leisure time with intellectual pursuits. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your free time.
1. Think more. Looking at funny pictures or chatting on social networks will not make your brain burn more calories. Being at the monitor, read more interesting and scientific articles, solve problems, solve crossword puzzles. At the same time, the completion of each item should take at least 25 minutes: the longer you are not distracted and keep your concentration on one subject, the more active the brain works.
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2. Less glucose. Intense thought processes provoke a decrease in blood glucose levels. The brain seeks to make up for losses as soon as possible, therefore, after an intellectual load, an increased feeling of hunger naturally arises. So, scientists from a Canadian university tracked how many calories volunteers consume after rest and after solving mathematical problems. Participants in the experiment who were engaged in mental activity, on average, ate 200 kcal more than those who did nothing.
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If you feel mentally tired, drink a cup of sweet tea. This will be enough to compensate for the losses and feed the brain. You can borrow healthy snack ideas from Hollywood stars.
3. Emotional experiences. Of course, you don’t have to try to intentionally drive yourself into a state of stress. Emotions, both negative and positive, cause the brain to burn more calories. This is a great opportunity to add excitement and vivid impressions to your daily life.
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The opinion of the editors may not coincide with the opinion of the author of the article.
