Does Thinking a Lot Burn More Calories?

Losing those extra pounds can be a relatively straightforward task with regular trips to the gym and a bit of patience, or it can become a titanic mission full of frustration. When analyzing the human body's energy consumption, we know that different actions use a fairly specific amount of calories, but what happens when we think? Does the brain burn more calories when facing a complex task? Can we erase that secretly devoured chocolate bar by solving a puzzle...?

Two small "vanilla-flavored sponge cakes" just disappeared from my desk, accompanied by a cup of tea. Definitely not the healthiest breakfast option, and the 146 calories (per cake) reported on the package feel like a dagger. How could I erase that number? The first thing that comes to mind is a session on the treadmill or stationary bike. Moving muscle and burning fat usually works.

Now, the question is: Are there alternatives? I'm talking about something beyond the "magic diets" and the so-called supplements that certain people insisted on selling through television. For example: The human brain consumes a significant amount of energy, about 20 percent of the total available. So... what happens when it works harder?

Does the brain burn more calories when it's pushed?

Indeed, the brain consumes more calories, but once the calculator comes into play, we realize the final number isn't that spectacular. The brain's energy needs are notable, but that also extends to its efficiency.

Part of the energy is invested in the creation and release of neurotransmitters when we think, which amounts to one fifth of a calorie per minute. When thinking more, the brain requires a greater amount of blood, oxygen, and of course, glucose.

A study revealed that when facing more demanding mental tasks, brain blood vessels dilate to obtain extra glucose, but that doesn't mean glucose consumption has a direct effect. In fact, the results tend to be contradictory: a person who exercises for 20 minutes on a treadmill (distributing glucose consumption) before performing a task concentrates better than someone at rest.

The difference between the caloric consumption of the brain at rest and under intense activity is a little more than one calorie, meaning we go from about 0.2 calories per minute to 1.5 calories. The problem is that this jump only lasts a few minutes. The act of thinking burns between 10 and 50 calories each day, so the answer to the original question is yes, but if you hoped to lose weight purely through Sudoku, you'll need to look elsewhere.