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Ask HN: How do you fuel your brain on a sugar-free diet?

5 points by goodfellaw 11y ago

I have been trying out a sugar-free diet, but I feel that this leaves me less able to sustain long programming sessions. What is the appropriate nutrition for sustained mental activity?

ramtatatam 11y ago
Fat. But not just any kind of fat, read here: https://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-complete-illustrated-one-page-bulletproof-diet/ https://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-complete-illustrated-one... I tried it and had very interesting observations - nothing I have tried before gave me the same results.
a3n 11y ago
Sustained over tonight, with little regard to the future? Plenty of Red Bull. Over a long life? No added sugar (it hides everywhere, even in bread), little to no processed grain (e.g. bread and all related), the right amount of exercise and sleep, and a recognition that consuming "food" to help you get less than the right amount of sleep to work longer and make someone else rich is something you should think twice about.
Snowalker 11y ago
Who said you need sugar to code more? LOL You need more fruits and vegetables, both give a lot of energy and they are healthy. I'm on a sugar free diet from the beginning of the year and I'm just fine.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > Who said you need sugar to code more? LOL You need more fruits and vegetables, both give a lot of energy and they are healthy. Fruits are full of sugars. > I'm on a sugar free diet from the beginning of the year and I'm just fine. If you are eating fruit, you aren't on a sugar-free diet. You might be on an "added sugar" free diet, or a "refined sugar" free diet, but either of those are very different than a "sugar free" diet. (And either of them are consistent with a very unhealthy diet getting 100% of its calories from sugars.)
DrScump 11y ago
When you say "sugar free", do you mean just no added sucrose or corn syrup, or do you mean a true ketogenic diet? And "less able" in what way? Early on, you're just experiencing "sugar cravings" or "withdrawl" (not literally accurate, but that's how it feels). If you stick with it, your blood sugar becomes much more stable hour to hour and day to day. If you are deficient in aminos like taurine or theanine or whatever, supplements can help. But there is an adaptation process to ketogenic dieting while your brain adapts to using ketone bodies for fuel instead of glucose.

5 points by goodfellaw 11y ago

I have been trying out a sugar-free diet, but I feel that this leaves me less able to sustain long programming sessions. What is the appropriate nutrition for sustained mental activity?

ramtatatam 11y ago

Fat. But not just any kind of fat, read here: https://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-complete-illustrated-one-page-bulletproof-diet/ https://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-complete-illustrated-one... I tried it and had very interesting observations - nothing I have tried before gave me the same results.

a3n 11y ago

Sustained over tonight, with little regard to the future? Plenty of Red Bull. Over a long life? No added sugar (it hides everywhere, even in bread), little to no processed grain (e.g. bread and all related), the right amount of exercise and sleep, and a recognition that consuming "food" to help you get less than the right amount of sleep to work longer and make someone else rich is something you should think twice about.

Snowalker 11y ago

Who said you need sugar to code more? LOL You need more fruits and vegetables, both give a lot of energy and they are healthy. I'm on a sugar free diet from the beginning of the year and I'm just fine.

dragonwriter 11y ago
> Who said you need sugar to code more? LOL You need more fruits and vegetables, both give a lot of energy and they are healthy. Fruits are full of sugars. > I'm on a sugar free diet from the beginning of the year and I'm just fine. If you are eating fruit, you aren't on a sugar-free diet. You might be on an "added sugar" free diet, or a "refined sugar" free diet, but either of those are very different than a "sugar free" diet. (And either of them are consistent with a very unhealthy diet getting 100% of its calories from sugars.)

DrScump 11y ago

When you say "sugar free", do you mean just no added sucrose or corn syrup, or do you mean a true ketogenic diet? And "less able" in what way? Early on, you're just experiencing "sugar cravings" or "withdrawl" (not literally accurate, but that's how it feels). If you stick with it, your blood sugar becomes much more stable hour to hour and day to day. If you are deficient in aminos like taurine or theanine or whatever, supplements can help. But there is an adaptation process to ketogenic dieting while your brain adapts to using ketone bodies for fuel instead of glucose.