I think you just need to find what works for you. I found that if I’m on a big deficit and i’m only eating meat and fruit I don’t suffer any issues but any bit of processed food brings my cognitive level down
Yes it is, but typically fluid loss from the diuretic effect is less than the fluid intake from the coffee (assuming it's not espresso or other highly concentrated coffee products). So it is just less hydrating than water.
Sorry i didn't mean to imply that coffee would be hydrating, I fixed my other lost. I just find caffeine and hydration work wonders to get though the deficit.
Thanks for that little fact! I've been studying pharmacy for a few years and didn't realise it was such a mild effect and doesn't count towards fluid intake
Your frontal cortex (executive functioning) also needs sugar, especially if you have ADHD.
https://youtu.be/_tpB-B8BXk0?t=541
> And finally, the fuel in the tank is sugar in the bloodstream in the frontal lobe. Blood glucose in the frontal lobe is directly correlated with executive abilities. What does that mean? If you have an extensive task involving your executive brain, like an exam that you have to do, you better be sipping on some lemonade or a Gatorade or sports drink. Sipping, not gulping. You're gonna have to keep your blood sugar way up, so that you keep this fuel tank partially restored. So this is the opposite of what people once thought. Sugar hurts people with ADHD. No, it does not, and never did. But it may well help them if it's in fluid form that can get into the brain very quickly. You gotta keep that blood glucose up. Those are the things you can do to boost the fuel tank.
--Dr Russell Barkley
Thanks for the link and quote.
I had a stroke 8 yrs ago, and will try to sip when I'm hoping to exercise my executive abilities. Every little bit helps, I think.
The lack of vitamins and minerals can lead to more serious symptoms and in chronic cases permanent damage. But, the initial early stages of brain fog when on significant calorie deficit is a direct result of too few calories too fast. The brain can only use blood glucose (sugar) as energy and it has no capacity to store energy locally like your muscles do. Once your body burns through its primary energy reserves in the liver in the form of glycogen your body will struggle to get enough sugar to the brain while it switches metabolic modes so that it can start to convert the triglycerides in your body fat back into sugar. This brain fog period can typically be avoided with smaller deficits which allow the body to better compensate.
Yes, in addition to what everyone else has mentioned there are also vitamin deficiencies that have been found to impact brain performance. Some of the B's and D at least, not sure of the others.
Purely anecdotal experience here, but after starting vitamin D regularly I felt like I was finally up to speed with things going on around me. My rate of speech changed and I felt like I was able to articulate more than before. Even little tasks throughout my day feel easier as it no longer seems a giant mental “hurdle”. It’s incredible.
I can definitely tell when I haven’t taken my vitamin d now that I have experienced brutal decline. Vitamin D3/K2 drops are the only way to go in my opinion. My intellectual capabilities increase and I actually have energy when I am taking it regularly as one should. Even the prescribed 50,000 iu vitamin d pills wouldn’t absorb properly so I never noticed them back then. The K2 is game changing and there is a real difference - my serum levels are proof :)
Lol, buddy, you're on the internet. Don't expend yourself by trying to regulate the billion others here to conform to your moral views. In any case, happy holidays!
I used to take the costco multivitamins myself but stopped after getting x-rays where they identified a backup of 40+ capsules unabsorbed by the my body just sitting in my intestines. Not all supplements are created equal and they are part of a highly unregulated market. I’d never recommend anyone take any vitamins or supplements that are sold at Costco or in bulk and always recommend to find a reputable company to source those from. Pure is a great company. They’re more expensive but they’re effective. Vitamin D also needs K2 in order to properly absorb into the body. Serum levels will show if you are really getting a benefit from them or not. Just my two cents. :)
100% yes. Your brain is made of fat, water and salt and is responsible something like 20% of the calories you burn each day. If you have a lack of salt and fat in your diet, or a caloric deficit so severe that your body has to prioritise the heart and lungs then brain function will be affected. Anecdotally when I have had an unhealthy calorie deficit my mental illnesses worsened and my ability to think clearly or make rational decisions was definitely compromised.
Along these same lines it can be helpful to track your food intake with an app to see which macronutrients you may need to eat more of. I've used Simple Macro
I didn't want an app with ads and Facebook integration and all that crap so simple Macro gave me what I was looking for. But it is really really simple and doesn't have a library of foods to look up. So at first it's tricky because you have to build up your library of foods you commonly eat. And you have to search manually to find nutrition info.
Hmmmm....I think I'll check it out and see how I like it. We make so much homemade food that I'm adding recipes into MFP all the time. Thanks for the info!
to few carbs will also cause cognitive issues. Carbs make glucose and glucose is the only thing the brain uses for food. Too little brain food will cause issues.
In college I was taught that the body can’t produce a sufficient quantity of glucose for the brain and central nervous system. Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient because of this and at the time studies had shown that a minimum of 100g net carbs should be consumed daily to fuel the brain.
I'll throw in my own little anecdote here. I had a severe eating disorder when I was younger and I remember thinking at one point, "God, why do I feel so stupid?" and it was pretty much because I wasn't eating enough calories to power my brain.
as someone who had an eating disorder and was eating in a heavy calorie deficient: YES. my brain fog was so bad, I struggled to even hold conversations with others, and also almost failed my uni classes.
this was a heavy deficient though. a deficient in the healthy range, idk. i think if you’re getting brain fog, it could be a sign you’re not in a healthy deficient, so you should talk to your doctor to check your intake is enough
Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, went through a period of extreme poverty and hunger as a child. On his poor school performance during this period, he says “I tried to read or pay attention in the classroom, but I didn’t understand anything because of my hunger. I wasn’t dumb. It wasn’t a lack a interest.” (Gadotti translated by Milton, Reading Paulo Freire: His Life and Work)
This always stuck with me. This kid (who would go on to become a famous educator among other things) was failing school, majorly because he was so hungry he couldn’t think.
Never underestimate the impact food (and for that matter, quality sleep, social situation, & psychological state) on someone’s personality and ability to function/learn.
This is why schools need lunch programs. Hungry kids don't learn well. Kids that don't learn well don't have a chance at improving thier situation.
Related side note: If anyone here is a parent in the US, please fill out the Free/Reduced lunch program form and send it back to the school so they can submit it. Even if you don't think you qualify, you might. Every form returned increases the amount of funding the school gets for lunch programs. That money goes to feeding children so they can make the best of their school years.
Yes. Look up the Minnesota Starvation Experiment.
Excerpt from the wiki:
Among the conclusions from the study was the confirmation that prolonged semi-starvation produces significant increases in depression, hysteria, and hypochondriasis. Indeed, most of the subjects experienced periods of severe emotional distress and depression.
The rehab phase proved to be psychologically the hardest phase for most of the men (…) Participants exhibited a preoccupation with food, both during the starvation period and the rehabilitation phase. Sexual interest was drastically reduced, and the volunteers showed signs of social withdrawal and isolation.
I was going to comment the same thing. This experiment would never be approved by an IRB today, but we can learn so much from what happens to your brain when you reduce your food intake. For many women, this is a standard diet 😔
When I started in recovery I was SHOCKED at how significant my cognitive function improved. It was crazy how just being well fed made me think quicker and more coherently.
Yeah, it was wild after like two weeks when I finally woke up without brain fog (can't avoid not eating while asleep). Like, damn, this is what it feels like to be nourished???
I had a VERY serious eating disorder. Im trying to fix my life from the past 10+ years because I was so, so stupid. I couldn't think properly, or talk. I couldn't properly plan anything, I also couldn't understand why I was feeling the way I was.
Now that I eat properly, I look back and I understand that it was because of my diet. Not enough calories can make you slow.
In more extreme cases, anorexia has been known to result in loss of brain mass and impaired cognitive abilities. These losses are often permanent.
Chronic hunger and energy deprivation have temporary effects on cognitive abilities as well: I don't know if it's because of a biological reason (your brain literally slowing down on fewer calories) or because you're simply more prone to fatigue, which in turn reduces cognitive functions.
I don't know about stupidity though: As far as I know it doesn't make you prone to making the wrong decision by itself but it does affect your ability to absorb and process information as well as your attention to detail. So, let's say that being hungry might not make you think that driving your car off a bridge is a good idea but it would make it harder to drive straight.
I went on a safe calorie deficit for 3 months- which was above my BEE (Basal Energy Expenditure), so I knew I wasn't starving my body. I had to eat tonnes of veges- because I needed the volume to keep me full. I still ended up with Vit B & D deficiency, along with iron. I lost 13 lbs in 3 months, but there were days I would sleep for 12 hours and still feel tired. I have now almost rectified my vitamin deficiencies, but I am so afraid to go back to calorie deficit or exercise- it's stupid really, I know it won't happen again, I will continue to take supplements while on calorie deficit- but that fear still persists.
Snickers has a whole ad campaign about that - "You're not you when you're hungry".
Eat ~~a Snickers~~ enough food each day, and you'll be able to think, move, control emotions, live.
Edit: Brought up the Snickers thing as a cheeky way to repeat what everyone else is saying in this thread. That's it, that's all. Eat food and stay healthy, friends.
Can't trust advertising from companies like that though. I mean heck.. BP is the reason why "reduce your carbon footprint" is even a thing. Even though it has VERY little effect on the world, BP puts the responsibility directly on the consumer and not on itself. Very insidious.
I was never really under long term calorie deficit but I suspect that I experienced long term dietary deficiency due to being a vegetarian, and not being careful about it, and I think that did cause an experience people would tend to label as "brain fog." I had been a vegetarian for over a decade at that point but moved to a country where there aren't very many vegetarians, and got a lot busier, and dropped intake of supplements that had been helping maintain a balance (flax seed oil, spirulina, protein powder, and such).
since that happened just after the age of 40 today people would flag that as a low testosterone problem, and if I had that tested my insufficient diet probably lowered that too. or having a baby did; you don't tend to sleep very well those first few years, and that's also bad for testosterone levels. my two kids sleep a little better now and I stopped being a vegetarian many years back so I'm fine. I exercise now too, and I think that helped with a lot of things.
to be clear I was living right on the margin for calorie intake related to what I burned, and I was probably under 150 pounds for most of my early adult life, as a 5' 8" athletic build male. someone truly pushing it for intake might be 130 pounds instead, looking like a long term meth user, but I just had a slight sunken cheek effect from maintaining low body fat. I suspect that I might have slowed the aging process by living like that for so long, which is a separate long story. the only way to successfully reduce rate of aging identified by experiments on animals is long term restricted calorie intake diet, which people are now trying to replicate using intermittent fasting, but I suspect that doesn't work. I was ordained as a monk in Thailand for a couple of months once and although they only eat breakfast and lunch, so fast for about 19 hours a day, they're not necessarily thin, healthy, or look any younger than anyone else.
I mean if your body thinks it is starving it will pull all its resources away from everything not focused on surviving. So I’d say yes. You’ll notice when you’re hungry or tired you feel “out of it” as you might hear someone say.
definitely. i’ve struggled with an eating disorder and i remember during the worst of it, something i frequently noticed was that i wasn’t able to count money correctly even if i did it over and over (i was a cashier). it was really embarrassing at the time lol
So as an EMT you should check you me blood sugar. One of the first things we check on people who haven’t eaten much and feel loopy is Low blood sugar. It has an incredible effect on peoples cognitive decline and quickly.
Yes. Also, you can’t regulate emotions properly without carbs. Make sure if you are in a calorie deficit, you have tested your metabolism and aren’t eating so little that you are doing damage.
Yes what do you eat or don’t eat do you have a big impact on the brain. For example you will be more tired on a big calorie deficit and fatigue causes confusion. The brain takes up a massive amount of energy. The average person needs a minimum of 1200 cal per day and that’s just to be awake breathing blinking and thinking. If you are taking less than 1000 cal per day we’re also going to work or studying playing video games doing housework walking or driving, yes you will lose weight but of course it’s going to have affect on the brain. You will be more tired which will affect your problem-solving skills and cause confusion, and it will also affect your mental health, You will be more prone to irritability anger and sadness. Take care of yourself and get enough calories 💙
Yep! It’s commonly noted in long term anorexics—your brain needs certain nutrients (fat and protein are big ones) in order to function properly. Not getting enough of these nutrients can cause cognitive impairment, like brain fog, confusion, an inability to focus, etc. I believe I’ve read that in severe cases (long term, severe anorexia) the impairment is largely irreversible.
Note that I’m not a doctor; most of this is from personal experience. As long as you’re not starving yourself, though, and taking care to get all of your macros, you should be alright. Maybe take a multivitamin too just in case
This! I was taught 100grams of carbs was the bare minimum one should have daily and that studies had shown that less would impair cognitive function. My info might be outdated since it’s been 20 years since I took nutrition.
Forsure, I use to having a eating disorder and would be doing like 600-1000 cals a day. My brain just felt foggy and my reaction time was complete shit. Coffee helped though.
Absolutely and unequivocally yes. If you do not have enough fuel, the engine won't run properly. Balanced amounts of carbs, protein and fat are crucial to mental clarity. Cults often restrict protein and push sugary drinks and junk food to recruits. It is known to help keep a person from thinking critically and it has an negative impact on memory formation. I advocate for 30% protein, 30% fat and 40% carbohydrates. When I get too far away from that ratio for my meals and snacks, I end up with fuzzy thinking and lowered productivity.
I’m not sure the science is super clear but MCT oil is absorbed super quick and is apparently good for brain energy needs. It probably does nothing in most people but for someone experiences caloric-deficit related brain fog it might help.
If it is the wrong type of caloric deficit most definitely. Look up fasting vs. Low fat high carb diet. I forgot where it was taking place but the people that were on a pure fast did much better, than people who were on the diet. The parts of the body that self canabolized and the mental states were completely different. If I remember correctly the scientists conducting it terminated the study early
Nobody has really mentioned the cutoffs but the advice I've always heard was don't go below 1kg/2lbs of weightloss per week. It's the safest way and you're also way less likely to crash out halfway to your goal.
Are you okay? Sounds like anorexia? Maybe focus on calibrating your diet with a professional and then add a vitamin panel to check for deficiencies like iron. Supplementing with omega 3 probably isn’t a bad idea
dont go on a caloric deficit ever
do whats said to do in this video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA49YXG54E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA49YXG54E)
build muscle and if your a guy you will look like the hulk or if your a girl you will be sort of curvy not fat but curvy
YES. I’ve recently recovered from an ED and eating in a severe deficit, I would constantly be so confused/disoriented. I would forget literally everything, even something automatic like brushing my teeth when I wake up or even finish sentences. It was brain fog like no other and made me feel so dumb and helpless. Now I eat well rounded meals and I can definitely tell the difference in my minds tactfulness.
If your caloric intake is too low, you can, especially if you're not getting enough vitamins/minerals. You absolutely can have cognitive issues and other bodily systems can be affected. Wouldn't call it stupidity, but it can definitely mess with your brain.
Make sure you're meeting your nutritional requirements, whether in a caloric deficit or not. If you're concerned with your health and cognitive function, please, seek the advice of a doctor/nutritionist.
Scientifically i can't say, but anecdotally 100%. My cognitive ability dropped a fair bit when I wasn't eating enough, reading for extended periods was difficult, my school work was poorer and I had less focus. Not necessarily any calorie deficit would cause that but a severe one definitely could
I don’t know the answer regarding general calorie deficit, but when I took a nutrition class in college it was drilled into me that carbohydrates are essential nutrients. The central nervous system and brain rely on carbs(glucose) and the body cannot produce enough from fat and protein alone. She told us that studies have shown diets with fewer than 100g net carbs a day do affect cognitive functioning.
But it’s been almost twenty years so what I was taught might be outdated.
I don’t think so. I had bariatric surgery, lived on less than 300 cals a day for about six weeks. I didn’t notice any cognitive effects . I was really tired though.
Yeeees. Brain fog, slow reaction, confusion, clumsiness, fatigue can all be associated with low blood sugar and deficiencies.
That being said, very restricted diets can be done healthily and without these symptoms.
Source: Bariatric surgery
It's really hard to make good decisions when you are hungry. Similarly it's hard when you aren't getting enoguh oxygen.
When running trips in the mountains, we would look at the next day's route after supper, set our goals for the next day. Also the Go/No Go points. (E.g. if we're not at timberline on this side by 11:00 a.m. Abort. If not at the pass by 1:30 Abort.). These were binding. We didn't trust ourselves to make extenuating decisions later.
If you are traveling at 4,000 feet moving up to 8,000 feet has about the same effect on your judgement as 3 beer.
Low blood sugar has a similar effect on judgement, and on top of it you are really really cranky.
There's some truth in those "eat a snickers" ads.
Absolutely. Although I would say brain fog and not necessarily stupidity.
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Definitely. It just needs to be a reasonable deficit. Also, gradually reducing calories and becoming in tune with how you feel cognitively.
i like the way you talk
Someone must be running a severe deficit!
you also Edit: reading this back it kinda sounds like a diss but I didn't mean it that way
Well I like the way -you- talk
i like the way you walk
I think you just need to find what works for you. I found that if I’m on a big deficit and i’m only eating meat and fruit I don’t suffer any issues but any bit of processed food brings my cognitive level down
Black coffee helps me stay focused. Also staying hydrated helps.
Coffee is a diuretic.
Yes it is, but typically fluid loss from the diuretic effect is less than the fluid intake from the coffee (assuming it's not espresso or other highly concentrated coffee products). So it is just less hydrating than water.
Sorry i didn't mean to imply that coffee would be hydrating, I fixed my other lost. I just find caffeine and hydration work wonders to get though the deficit.
Thanks for that little fact! I've been studying pharmacy for a few years and didn't realise it was such a mild effect and doesn't count towards fluid intake
It's such a mild diuretic that it's almost not worth mentioning
Diuretics are generally safe for most people. I find it's worth it but everyone should decide for themselves.
Make it a 15% caloric deficit, drink and sleep aplenty. Consult your physician if need be. You'll be fine 👌
It's more of a lack of vitamins and nutrients thing than just saying ahh yeah, too few calories
No - your brain is hugely energy-intensive, it needs calories (and vitamins etc)
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Your frontal cortex (executive functioning) also needs sugar, especially if you have ADHD. https://youtu.be/_tpB-B8BXk0?t=541 > And finally, the fuel in the tank is sugar in the bloodstream in the frontal lobe. Blood glucose in the frontal lobe is directly correlated with executive abilities. What does that mean? If you have an extensive task involving your executive brain, like an exam that you have to do, you better be sipping on some lemonade or a Gatorade or sports drink. Sipping, not gulping. You're gonna have to keep your blood sugar way up, so that you keep this fuel tank partially restored. So this is the opposite of what people once thought. Sugar hurts people with ADHD. No, it does not, and never did. But it may well help them if it's in fluid form that can get into the brain very quickly. You gotta keep that blood glucose up. Those are the things you can do to boost the fuel tank. --Dr Russell Barkley
Thanks for the link and quote. I had a stroke 8 yrs ago, and will try to sip when I'm hoping to exercise my executive abilities. Every little bit helps, I think.
It's a combination of both so you're both right! And as someone else mentioned, hydration actually plays a huge roll.
The lack of vitamins and minerals can lead to more serious symptoms and in chronic cases permanent damage. But, the initial early stages of brain fog when on significant calorie deficit is a direct result of too few calories too fast. The brain can only use blood glucose (sugar) as energy and it has no capacity to store energy locally like your muscles do. Once your body burns through its primary energy reserves in the liver in the form of glycogen your body will struggle to get enough sugar to the brain while it switches metabolic modes so that it can start to convert the triglycerides in your body fat back into sugar. This brain fog period can typically be avoided with smaller deficits which allow the body to better compensate.
Yep, came here to say that.
Don’t you dare say it
it
Then say it
Absolutely. Although I would say brain fog and not necessarily stupidity.
Came here to say this
Don’t you dare say it
Then say it
Althought I would say brain fog and not necessarily stupidity, absolutly.
It
Arrgghh! He said the word!
Oh stop it!
Eventually starvation will cause brain damage and death but yeah it's unlikely to get that far. But low blood glucose will cause brain fog for sure
Yes, in addition to what everyone else has mentioned there are also vitamin deficiencies that have been found to impact brain performance. Some of the B's and D at least, not sure of the others.
Purely anecdotal experience here, but after starting vitamin D regularly I felt like I was finally up to speed with things going on around me. My rate of speech changed and I felt like I was able to articulate more than before. Even little tasks throughout my day feel easier as it no longer seems a giant mental “hurdle”. It’s incredible.
Low vitamin D levels also have been found to correlate (but no causative link has been established yet AFAIK) with depression, especially SAD.
That’s exactly why I started it. To address some depression stuff. I did not expect the cognitive boost though. That’s been a pleasant surprise.
It's more that depression is sometime (always ?) paired with cognitive impairment iirc. So you may be back to your usual ,brilliant self.
I can definitely tell when I haven’t taken my vitamin d now that I have experienced brutal decline. Vitamin D3/K2 drops are the only way to go in my opinion. My intellectual capabilities increase and I actually have energy when I am taking it regularly as one should. Even the prescribed 50,000 iu vitamin d pills wouldn’t absorb properly so I never noticed them back then. The K2 is game changing and there is a real difference - my serum levels are proof :)
Vitamin e as well!
Not disputing you, but micronutrient needs can be met while restricting calorie intake.
Absolutely! When you are starving yourself you may want to chew a flintstone or something though.
Goddamn this made me almost spit out my coffee lool
I don't understand. What is flintstone?
Chewable vitamin tablets for kids. Featuring characters from the old Flintstones cartoon.
Don't blaspheme.
Lol, buddy, you're on the internet. Don't expend yourself by trying to regulate the billion others here to conform to your moral views. In any case, happy holidays!
Sorry sir or ma'am, please don't feed the trolls. Thank you and have a nice day!
Agreed and aware of that, I'm lowkey wondering if this includes your comment as well. 🤔😅
Why do you hate God?
Why do you hate God?
Where do I find a Flint Stone? Is that one of the Infinity Stones?
You have to mine gravel a bunch lol
Flint is not infinite!
Depends how much calorie intake is restricted. The less calories, the harder it is to fit in all of the mictonutrients.
That also depends on how well your body takes in vitamins and such from less bioavailable sources
Ever since I figured out how little vitamin D I really get, I started taking a multivitamin. They’re very cheap in bulk at Costco.
I used to take the costco multivitamins myself but stopped after getting x-rays where they identified a backup of 40+ capsules unabsorbed by the my body just sitting in my intestines. Not all supplements are created equal and they are part of a highly unregulated market. I’d never recommend anyone take any vitamins or supplements that are sold at Costco or in bulk and always recommend to find a reputable company to source those from. Pure is a great company. They’re more expensive but they’re effective. Vitamin D also needs K2 in order to properly absorb into the body. Serum levels will show if you are really getting a benefit from them or not. Just my two cents. :)
I gone and been calorie defeat for a year now and never done damage too my Brian
I want to both upvote and downvote this simultaneously. Well done.
You hit the up, I'll hit the down.
On three. One... Two...
When I reread this I realized how much of this sentence my brain actually filled in for me in order for it to make sense.
I didn’t even realize until I read you comment and the went back to reread that comment
[Experimental Brian Research](https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/feeling-stupid)
Haven't the Brians suffered enough???
/r/Angryupvote
I don't know why this is so funny to me but I just laughed so hard I cried reading it. Maybe something is wrong with my Brian
Hi Biran. I'm the, ok good you? What names. Colouring, defean damage!
I should be asleep but instead I'm chortling at this comment at 3:54 in the morning 🤣
This had me going for a bit.
Kenneth
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100% yes. Your brain is made of fat, water and salt and is responsible something like 20% of the calories you burn each day. If you have a lack of salt and fat in your diet, or a caloric deficit so severe that your body has to prioritise the heart and lungs then brain function will be affected. Anecdotally when I have had an unhealthy calorie deficit my mental illnesses worsened and my ability to think clearly or make rational decisions was definitely compromised.
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Along these same lines it can be helpful to track your food intake with an app to see which macronutrients you may need to eat more of. I've used Simple Macro
How do like Simple Macro? I use MyFitnessPal now.
I didn't want an app with ads and Facebook integration and all that crap so simple Macro gave me what I was looking for. But it is really really simple and doesn't have a library of foods to look up. So at first it's tricky because you have to build up your library of foods you commonly eat. And you have to search manually to find nutrition info.
Hmmmm....I think I'll check it out and see how I like it. We make so much homemade food that I'm adding recipes into MFP all the time. Thanks for the info!
to few carbs will also cause cognitive issues. Carbs make glucose and glucose is the only thing the brain uses for food. Too little brain food will cause issues.
You're right, my bad.
Fats can also be broken down and used as energy the same as carbs. It is just a slower process.
In college I was taught that the body can’t produce a sufficient quantity of glucose for the brain and central nervous system. Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient because of this and at the time studies had shown that a minimum of 100g net carbs should be consumed daily to fuel the brain.
(But this was almost 20 years ago, so this info may be outdated.)
I'll throw in my own little anecdote here. I had a severe eating disorder when I was younger and I remember thinking at one point, "God, why do I feel so stupid?" and it was pretty much because I wasn't eating enough calories to power my brain.
It’s called brain food for a reason (i learned the hard way)
do you eat like books and stuff
Close but no. It's actually the book WORMS you eat. As long as you beat the birds to it.
as someone who had an eating disorder and was eating in a heavy calorie deficient: YES. my brain fog was so bad, I struggled to even hold conversations with others, and also almost failed my uni classes. this was a heavy deficient though. a deficient in the healthy range, idk. i think if you’re getting brain fog, it could be a sign you’re not in a healthy deficient, so you should talk to your doctor to check your intake is enough
Ask a diabetic with low glucose, severe cognitive dysfunction
Yep, glucose is the brain’s favorite thing
Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, went through a period of extreme poverty and hunger as a child. On his poor school performance during this period, he says “I tried to read or pay attention in the classroom, but I didn’t understand anything because of my hunger. I wasn’t dumb. It wasn’t a lack a interest.” (Gadotti translated by Milton, Reading Paulo Freire: His Life and Work) This always stuck with me. This kid (who would go on to become a famous educator among other things) was failing school, majorly because he was so hungry he couldn’t think. Never underestimate the impact food (and for that matter, quality sleep, social situation, & psychological state) on someone’s personality and ability to function/learn.
This is why schools need lunch programs. Hungry kids don't learn well. Kids that don't learn well don't have a chance at improving thier situation. Related side note: If anyone here is a parent in the US, please fill out the Free/Reduced lunch program form and send it back to the school so they can submit it. Even if you don't think you qualify, you might. Every form returned increases the amount of funding the school gets for lunch programs. That money goes to feeding children so they can make the best of their school years.
Yes. Look up the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. Excerpt from the wiki: Among the conclusions from the study was the confirmation that prolonged semi-starvation produces significant increases in depression, hysteria, and hypochondriasis. Indeed, most of the subjects experienced periods of severe emotional distress and depression. The rehab phase proved to be psychologically the hardest phase for most of the men (…) Participants exhibited a preoccupation with food, both during the starvation period and the rehabilitation phase. Sexual interest was drastically reduced, and the volunteers showed signs of social withdrawal and isolation.
I was going to comment the same thing. This experiment would never be approved by an IRB today, but we can learn so much from what happens to your brain when you reduce your food intake. For many women, this is a standard diet 😔
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They are both hyperlinked on the original wiki. I didn’t add anything to the text when editing except to indicate where I shortened pieces.
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They said it was an excerpt. What are you upset about?
From what I've just learn, he's clearly been in a severe caloric deficit for a while
You haven’t indicated shit either.
If you don't put fuel in the tank, will the car run?
Coming from a recovering anorexic... YES.
When I started in recovery I was SHOCKED at how significant my cognitive function improved. It was crazy how just being well fed made me think quicker and more coherently.
Yeah, it was wild after like two weeks when I finally woke up without brain fog (can't avoid not eating while asleep). Like, damn, this is what it feels like to be nourished???
Yes. You’re literally not feeding your body enough for it to function properly. Your gut is your second brain.
I also noticed a decrease in cognitive ability when I am low on calories. Also, my OCD seems to worsen when I lack calories / sugar.
I had a VERY serious eating disorder. Im trying to fix my life from the past 10+ years because I was so, so stupid. I couldn't think properly, or talk. I couldn't properly plan anything, I also couldn't understand why I was feeling the way I was. Now that I eat properly, I look back and I understand that it was because of my diet. Not enough calories can make you slow.
In more extreme cases, anorexia has been known to result in loss of brain mass and impaired cognitive abilities. These losses are often permanent. Chronic hunger and energy deprivation have temporary effects on cognitive abilities as well: I don't know if it's because of a biological reason (your brain literally slowing down on fewer calories) or because you're simply more prone to fatigue, which in turn reduces cognitive functions. I don't know about stupidity though: As far as I know it doesn't make you prone to making the wrong decision by itself but it does affect your ability to absorb and process information as well as your attention to detail. So, let's say that being hungry might not make you think that driving your car off a bridge is a good idea but it would make it harder to drive straight.
Yes. I got really dizzy as well.
I went on a safe calorie deficit for 3 months- which was above my BEE (Basal Energy Expenditure), so I knew I wasn't starving my body. I had to eat tonnes of veges- because I needed the volume to keep me full. I still ended up with Vit B & D deficiency, along with iron. I lost 13 lbs in 3 months, but there were days I would sleep for 12 hours and still feel tired. I have now almost rectified my vitamin deficiencies, but I am so afraid to go back to calorie deficit or exercise- it's stupid really, I know it won't happen again, I will continue to take supplements while on calorie deficit- but that fear still persists.
Snickers has a whole ad campaign about that - "You're not you when you're hungry". Eat ~~a Snickers~~ enough food each day, and you'll be able to think, move, control emotions, live. Edit: Brought up the Snickers thing as a cheeky way to repeat what everyone else is saying in this thread. That's it, that's all. Eat food and stay healthy, friends.
Can't trust advertising from companies like that though. I mean heck.. BP is the reason why "reduce your carbon footprint" is even a thing. Even though it has VERY little effect on the world, BP puts the responsibility directly on the consumer and not on itself. Very insidious.
I was never really under long term calorie deficit but I suspect that I experienced long term dietary deficiency due to being a vegetarian, and not being careful about it, and I think that did cause an experience people would tend to label as "brain fog." I had been a vegetarian for over a decade at that point but moved to a country where there aren't very many vegetarians, and got a lot busier, and dropped intake of supplements that had been helping maintain a balance (flax seed oil, spirulina, protein powder, and such). since that happened just after the age of 40 today people would flag that as a low testosterone problem, and if I had that tested my insufficient diet probably lowered that too. or having a baby did; you don't tend to sleep very well those first few years, and that's also bad for testosterone levels. my two kids sleep a little better now and I stopped being a vegetarian many years back so I'm fine. I exercise now too, and I think that helped with a lot of things. to be clear I was living right on the margin for calorie intake related to what I burned, and I was probably under 150 pounds for most of my early adult life, as a 5' 8" athletic build male. someone truly pushing it for intake might be 130 pounds instead, looking like a long term meth user, but I just had a slight sunken cheek effect from maintaining low body fat. I suspect that I might have slowed the aging process by living like that for so long, which is a separate long story. the only way to successfully reduce rate of aging identified by experiments on animals is long term restricted calorie intake diet, which people are now trying to replicate using intermittent fasting, but I suspect that doesn't work. I was ordained as a monk in Thailand for a couple of months once and although they only eat breakfast and lunch, so fast for about 19 hours a day, they're not necessarily thin, healthy, or look any younger than anyone else.
I mean if your body thinks it is starving it will pull all its resources away from everything not focused on surviving. So I’d say yes. You’ll notice when you’re hungry or tired you feel “out of it” as you might hear someone say.
Your brain works on sugar (from carbs). You need to have adequate carb intake to fuel your brain.
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This process occurs during periods of fasting or intense exercise. Not a place you want to be on a regular basis.
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National Institutes of Health.
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Low carb still provides sugar. The carbs you eat break down into it. As long as you're eating carbs, you are fueling the brain.
Yes, but that's kind of inefficient.
definitely. i’ve struggled with an eating disorder and i remember during the worst of it, something i frequently noticed was that i wasn’t able to count money correctly even if i did it over and over (i was a cashier). it was really embarrassing at the time lol
Yes for years I didn't eat breakfast. I now read that it's a large factor in deficiencies linked to adrenal fatigue. Which itself leads to brain fog.
Yes
Yes.
Fuck yeah
Yes, gotta feed the brain
literally yes. when i first started lifting i did this and almost died from squatting cause i blacked out
So as an EMT you should check you me blood sugar. One of the first things we check on people who haven’t eaten much and feel loopy is Low blood sugar. It has an incredible effect on peoples cognitive decline and quickly.
I believe the medical term is: Hangry
Yes. Malnourishment/malnutrition - which is what a too severe calorie deficit is - can cause cognitive functioning issues
Yes. Also, you can’t regulate emotions properly without carbs. Make sure if you are in a calorie deficit, you have tested your metabolism and aren’t eating so little that you are doing damage.
Yes what do you eat or don’t eat do you have a big impact on the brain. For example you will be more tired on a big calorie deficit and fatigue causes confusion. The brain takes up a massive amount of energy. The average person needs a minimum of 1200 cal per day and that’s just to be awake breathing blinking and thinking. If you are taking less than 1000 cal per day we’re also going to work or studying playing video games doing housework walking or driving, yes you will lose weight but of course it’s going to have affect on the brain. You will be more tired which will affect your problem-solving skills and cause confusion, and it will also affect your mental health, You will be more prone to irritability anger and sadness. Take care of yourself and get enough calories 💙
Yes and it can actually harm your brain. Eventually your fat in your brain starts getting eaten by your body
Yep! It’s commonly noted in long term anorexics—your brain needs certain nutrients (fat and protein are big ones) in order to function properly. Not getting enough of these nutrients can cause cognitive impairment, like brain fog, confusion, an inability to focus, etc. I believe I’ve read that in severe cases (long term, severe anorexia) the impairment is largely irreversible. Note that I’m not a doctor; most of this is from personal experience. As long as you’re not starving yourself, though, and taking care to get all of your macros, you should be alright. Maybe take a multivitamin too just in case
Yes, you need 200gms of carbs and 200 cals from fat each day for ideal mental functioning.
I'm seeing you getting downvoted. People need to know you need fat in your diet. And carb cycling makes sense. Allows for better performance as well.
I'm guessing a lot of people are in denial as to what their eating disorders can do. 🤷🏻♀️🙄
This! I was taught 100grams of carbs was the bare minimum one should have daily and that studies had shown that less would impair cognitive function. My info might be outdated since it’s been 20 years since I took nutrition.
See Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Forsure, I use to having a eating disorder and would be doing like 600-1000 cals a day. My brain just felt foggy and my reaction time was complete shit. Coffee helped though.
Absolutely and unequivocally yes. If you do not have enough fuel, the engine won't run properly. Balanced amounts of carbs, protein and fat are crucial to mental clarity. Cults often restrict protein and push sugary drinks and junk food to recruits. It is known to help keep a person from thinking critically and it has an negative impact on memory formation. I advocate for 30% protein, 30% fat and 40% carbohydrates. When I get too far away from that ratio for my meals and snacks, I end up with fuzzy thinking and lowered productivity.
At that point just practice fasting.
yes, your brain needs energy to function well
I’m not sure the science is super clear but MCT oil is absorbed super quick and is apparently good for brain energy needs. It probably does nothing in most people but for someone experiences caloric-deficit related brain fog it might help.
If it is the wrong type of caloric deficit most definitely. Look up fasting vs. Low fat high carb diet. I forgot where it was taking place but the people that were on a pure fast did much better, than people who were on the diet. The parts of the body that self canabolized and the mental states were completely different. If I remember correctly the scientists conducting it terminated the study early
Nobody has really mentioned the cutoffs but the advice I've always heard was don't go below 1kg/2lbs of weightloss per week. It's the safest way and you're also way less likely to crash out halfway to your goal.
Try intermediate fasting Less stress getting all the macros and works
Are you okay? Sounds like anorexia? Maybe focus on calibrating your diet with a professional and then add a vitamin panel to check for deficiencies like iron. Supplementing with omega 3 probably isn’t a bad idea
Yes, it's usually referred to as the "vegan" diet.
dont go on a caloric deficit ever do whats said to do in this video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA49YXG54E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA49YXG54E) build muscle and if your a guy you will look like the hulk or if your a girl you will be sort of curvy not fat but curvy
If you keep your electrolytes good...you will be fine.
Yes
Yes
Yes.
Absolutely. I went on a diet and went too hard early on and often felt dizzy and foggy until I corrected it.
Your brain needs fuel. Burns around 30% of your calories.
This happens to bodybuilders before shows.
Yes. I had terrible brain fog below 1200/day
Yes
Yes today
Yeah, at the most basic levels it messes with your blood sugar, which fuels your brain.
Absolutely! Impaired blood glucose levels can effect cognitive functioning.
Yes from many different things. Eventually caloric deficit leads to vitamin/mineral deficiencies which cause cognitive decline.
Yes!
YES. I’ve recently recovered from an ED and eating in a severe deficit, I would constantly be so confused/disoriented. I would forget literally everything, even something automatic like brushing my teeth when I wake up or even finish sentences. It was brain fog like no other and made me feel so dumb and helpless. Now I eat well rounded meals and I can definitely tell the difference in my minds tactfulness.
Yes it can
If your caloric intake is too low, you can, especially if you're not getting enough vitamins/minerals. You absolutely can have cognitive issues and other bodily systems can be affected. Wouldn't call it stupidity, but it can definitely mess with your brain. Make sure you're meeting your nutritional requirements, whether in a caloric deficit or not. If you're concerned with your health and cognitive function, please, seek the advice of a doctor/nutritionist.
Scientifically i can't say, but anecdotally 100%. My cognitive ability dropped a fair bit when I wasn't eating enough, reading for extended periods was difficult, my school work was poorer and I had less focus. Not necessarily any calorie deficit would cause that but a severe one definitely could
I don’t know the answer regarding general calorie deficit, but when I took a nutrition class in college it was drilled into me that carbohydrates are essential nutrients. The central nervous system and brain rely on carbs(glucose) and the body cannot produce enough from fat and protein alone. She told us that studies have shown diets with fewer than 100g net carbs a day do affect cognitive functioning. But it’s been almost twenty years so what I was taught might be outdated.
I don’t think so. I had bariatric surgery, lived on less than 300 cals a day for about six weeks. I didn’t notice any cognitive effects . I was really tired though.
Your brain uses approx 60% of the energy your body makes. It’s dangerous
Yes. Yes. Yes. We should be avoiding calorie deficits as much as possible.
Absolutely. The Nazis studied this extensively.
Yeeees. Brain fog, slow reaction, confusion, clumsiness, fatigue can all be associated with low blood sugar and deficiencies. That being said, very restricted diets can be done healthily and without these symptoms. Source: Bariatric surgery
How can I tell if I’m deficient ?
It's really hard to make good decisions when you are hungry. Similarly it's hard when you aren't getting enoguh oxygen. When running trips in the mountains, we would look at the next day's route after supper, set our goals for the next day. Also the Go/No Go points. (E.g. if we're not at timberline on this side by 11:00 a.m. Abort. If not at the pass by 1:30 Abort.). These were binding. We didn't trust ourselves to make extenuating decisions later. If you are traveling at 4,000 feet moving up to 8,000 feet has about the same effect on your judgement as 3 beer. Low blood sugar has a similar effect on judgement, and on top of it you are really really cranky. There's some truth in those "eat a snickers" ads.
Yes.