As you may already know brain cells, or neurons specifically “depend almost entirely on glucose”. That desire for glucose arises from the fact that glucose is practically the only type of nutrient that is able to pass through the heavily guarded blood- brain barrier. The only other nutrient that has permission to cross the blood- brain barrier are ketones. Ketones of course are of no use to the demanding and picky neuron, because this nutrient is not nearly as plentiful as the preferred glucose.
The neurons in the brain demand more energy than any other type of cell. Neurons require the energy in the form of glucose, and the body must provide a steady supply at all times. Neurons don’t have the ability to store glucose so the bloodstream has to deliver the nutrient it acquires from carbohydrates found in food.
So the next question is, really neurons need glucose all time? The answer is yes, they need glucose twenty four hours a day seven days a week. This is due to the fact that neurons are always “in a state of metabolic activity”. Your neurons are even at work using energy while you are sleeping.
Wow! So does that mean that if I have a large supply of glucose available I will have more energy? In reality this is what happens when we ingest foods such as chocolate or sugary soft drinks. “You feel an energy boost”, but it is only for a short period of time because soon the insulin from the pancreas removes it from the bloodstream.
Hey, so maybe Neurons do have an excuse to be so demanding of glucose after all. I know I would also be demanding if I was forced to function all the time.
Great topic to talk about since glucose serves such an important task in the human body. Being the main energy source for the brain and to deliver energy throughout the body. Sometimes you might need or require that extra boost of energy and in order for your body to produce this it would need the carbohydrates that are usually found in all kinds of fruits, bread and pastas. Once you have consumed the food your body will start to do the magic and produce glucose which would be used as energy to fuel your body. I have read a couple of article that eating foods with high amounts of carbohydrates are usually good for you before you preform demanding tasks such as going to the gym and running a marathon will allow you to perform better since you will have all that extra glucose inside your body ready to be called for.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that our brain demands glucose all the time is remarkable. Our brain is extremely active in the day, so it didn't really surprise me to find out that neurons would need energy from the time we wake up to the time we jump into bed, especially since we're constantly taking exams and breaking our heads with memorizing new material. And like you mentioned, this would explain why people drink a coke or eat a chocolate bar to keep them awake, even if they're worn out and exhausted. It did, however, kind of catch me off guard when you mentioned how they're using energy in our sleep. I didn't think they would completely shut down, but I guess I never really considered or pictured them eating glucose in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteI learned this information when I took biology and I was just as impressed of how much our body needs glucose to function, not only neurons but pretty much all of our cells. It's when we consume too much of it through our diet when the insulin fails to control the glucose levels. We need a limit for it and exercising helps get rid of it.
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