Listen to this PodcastMore 60-Second Mind
-
How to Enjoy Your Decision
5/22/13 -
Inside the Mind of a Psychopath
5/14/13
The other afternoon I hit a classic mid-afternoon slump. Sleepy and sluggish, I grabbed for a bit of chocolate. But I probably should have had egg whites or maybe a piece of steak. Because a recent study in mice has found that it’s protein, not sugar, that provides the perk.
Brain cells called orexin cells secrete a stimulant that makes us energetic and tells the body to burn calories. If the cells’ activity decreases, narcolepsy or sudden sleepiness, is the result. The work is published in the journal Neuron. [Mahesh M. Karnani et al., "Activation of Central Orexin/Hypocretin Neurons by Dietary Amino Acids"]
Scientists marked orexin cells in mice brains so they would fluoresce. Then they tracked the cells’ activity after feeding the mice different kinds of food.
Turns out that glucose blocks the function of the orexin cells. This effect might be the main reason for the desired post-lunch siesta. But the researchers also found that amino acids stop the glucose action, keeping the cells active and the mice alert. So next time I get that 3 p.m. slow down, I’ll have an egg. If I’m alert enough to remember.
—Christie Nicholson
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
See what we're tweeting about
9 Comments
Add CommentNo surprise to me. Sugar/carbs give you a mental pickup for a short while, but once they are wiped out of your bloodstream you feel more tired. Science has known this for awhile.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have been taking protein powder supplements for years in the morning at night. The effects are readily apparent. A shot of protein in the morning gives me more energy and keeps me going longer than coffee ever would, and without coffee's nasty side effects.
I also take protein when I need to pull an all nighter. The effects are noticeable with just plain vanilla flavored whey or casein protein.
I have jars of nuts in my office. Eating a handful in the afternoon definitely helps out. Also, inspired by the paleo movement, I completely changed my breakfast recently, giving up oatmeal/fruit in favor of eggs and vegetables, and this has worked very well to stabilize my morning energy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy dad had a big dog that I would feed table scraps (food like broccoli). Fin (the dog) took his time with such. He was especially slow about eating a piece of banana – he would savor it for the longest time. Now a piece of beef steak or sausage - gone before you could blink an eye!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo “amino acids stop the glucose action, keeping the cells active and the mice alert”. Here is my thought; things like beef and sausage don’t grow on trees. There was a time or two when Fin got my sausages before I did (he was a really big dog). Often in nature animal protein puts up a fight, and if lucky enough to land some you’ve got to gobble it up fast to get your share (not to mention the storage problem). Ergo, when chewing on “protein” stay alert, get it while you can! Maybe that’s what Mother Nature was up to on this one!
R. Carlson
Bring back afternoon naps, that's what I say. My father used to come back home from work, sleep then go back to work. Let me take that nap when I need it, instead of forcing me to work through it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOn the other hand there have been many studies that naps are good for you. Protein in place of carbs, up to a point, is a good idea in itself, for diabetics and fat people, uh, that is, obese, or mass-challenged individuals.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell, I have to say if you have a big bite for your lunch, no matter protein or sugar, you are no doubt about to be sleepy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMay day is simply not the same if I don't start with protein.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlso, I don't want to eat more calories to get the effect, so from the study: In this voltage-clamp assay, nonessential AAs elicited large responses, with a relative potency order glycine > aspartate > cysteine > alanine > serine > asparagine > proline > glutamine, while essential AAs were much less effective (Figures 3A and 3B).
Now I know which AA's to take to get the effect without adding to my waste line.
This doesn't surprise me at all because now that i begin to think about it, whenever i feel as though i need a pick me up a reach for something with sugar. However it doesn't really help that much, it may give me a small energy boost but not for long. Protein really gives you much more energy and strength to get through a long day. I'll definitley remember this the next time i feel i need some more energy. Instead of having a chocolate bar i'll try and find something with more protien to help me through the rest of the day.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am diabetic, type 2. I have noticed that sugar does not give me the initial boost that many people experience. Because of the condition my glucose levels are consistently higher than a normal level. If my sugars climb to 200+ I consistently loose motivation and get very sleepy and if they keep climbing I get to a place where I can just pass out into sleep. All of the doctors that I have gone to misdiagnose the condition as sleep apnea. To know that the condition can be controlled by using protein to change the chemistry even while my blood sugars are high would be very good. I need to try this, I have in the past attempted to self-medicate using caffiene and Amino supplements (energy drinks). The amino acids in the energy drink may explain why the sugar free versions of these are so effective.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this