Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the potential cognitive and energy benefits of fasting in the morning. The study discussed was with 24 active women who fasted, ate small or large breakfast prior to exercising in the morning. It was found that the fasting group had improved cognitive performance and more energy later in the day, although they had more hunger and were less relaxed prior to lunch.
Intermittent fasting increases ketones and prevents inflammation in the brain, which can lead to better clarity and energy throughout the morning. The women who fasted felt these effects subjectively and objectively with cognitive tasks; however, they were not as relaxed because they were hungry before lunch. Because this study regulated the time for lunch, the women were not able to listen to their bodies on the proper time to break their fast, leading to these unwanted side effects.
Check out the video for more in depth information on how to fast in the morning to maximize brain performance and minimize stress!
Veasey RC, Haskell-Ramsay CF, Kennedy DO, Tiplady B, Stevenson EJ. The Effect of Breakfast Prior to Morning Exercise on Cognitive Performance, Mood and Appetite Later in the Day in Habitually Active Women. Nutrients. 2015;7(7):5712-5732.
