Do you want to have a better memory and more creative inspiration? Cut down on sugar!
An excess of sugar has been shown to reduce high brain wave activity and increase low brain wave activity.
We all know that excess sugar is detrimental to our health. Not only can it lead to weight problems and diabetes.., but it has dangers to our brain function also.
- An excess of sugar in the brain can trigger an immune response similar to a virus.
- High sugar in the body during demanding tasks leads to an excess of cortisol the stress hormone.
- Sugar can interfere with brain communication and cause ‘misfires’ and errors.
- Sugar can cause brain inflammation from an excess of free radicals
What does sugar do to brain waves
When it comes to brain wave activity.., sugar seems to have two effects.
One, is that it increases the lower brain waves of Delta, Theta and Alpha. And the other more recent discovery is that it interferes with higher Gamma brain wave activity. Especially if people have had a diet of high sugar during the highest brain development phases in their youth.
Why is this potentially an issue?
The lower brainwaves of Delta, Theta and Alpha have an important place in our brains lives. But not when we are trying to be productive, motivated and creative. They are more associated with rest and relaxation. No wonder we feel sleepy after sugar intake. By contrast.., higher brain waves like Gamma are associated with memory, cognitive enhancement, flow states and creativity. The very things you need to be present during an average day.
So excess sugar is not your friend when it comes to maintaining brain health and intelligence.
High sugar and mental illness
People with cognitive disabilities who eat more sugar than average are found to have more severe symptoms. And ironically, people with mental dis-orders consume on average twice the amount of sugar as age matched healthy people. There seems to be a correlation between high sugar consumption and mental illness or decline.
More research needs to be done to fully prove the link between sugar and mental illness beyond studies with mice. But the evidence so far points to either a direct link or in the least, a contributing one. There is little doubt that sugar increases metabolic stresses on the brain. And with an increasing older population and increasing risk of age related mental decline.., this is an important subject to be aware of.
Sugar and damage to the brain >>