>I wrote: >Does anyone know of a proven link between demanding mental work >and increased consumption of carbohydrates? Protein doesn't give me what I >need, only carbs seem to help the mental load. I also remember reading >somewhere that 60% of all energy consumption is in the brain, but I don't >have a reference for it. > >---------------------------------- Then Mary quoted later on: > Ketosis is caused by >the metabolism of dietary fat when carbohydrate is unavailable or during >starvation. Ketosis elevates blood levels of two ketone bodies >(D-beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate) which provide the brain with a >non-glucose substrate, thereby sparing muscle from metabolic destruction >for glucose synthesis -- remember, except for ketones, the brain can only >use glucose as a fuel. This seems to confirm my hypothesis that the brain does indeed require a substantial amount of glucose during periods of high work load (i.e., every day, except weekends). Can I ask if there is anybody here who has a mentally exhausting job, and is able to stick to a strict lo-carb paleo diet (i.e., only one piece of fruit and no complex carbs)? Kat.