Brain Doping Can grape sugar really intensify the concentration?

Before important tests: can glucose promote concentration?
In Internet portals is often advised to glucose, when tricky tasks are to be done or important tests are pending. Such drugs should promote concentration. Is that true??

When important tests are due
Especially pupils and students like to grab grape sugar when complicated tasks have to be completed or important exams are due. The dietary supplement is finally considered as a so-called "brain food", as doping for the brain. But is there really something in the myth of the concentration-promoting dextrose? The answer is not entirely clear.

Grape sugar is a popular dietary supplement, which is used before important tests. He should eventually promote concentration. Is that true? (Image: Dan Race / fotolia.com)

Dextrose actually boosts concentration?
Some people who struggle with fatigue, stress or difficulty concentrating on the job, at university or at school often turn to grape sugar. This is considered as food for the brain and should provide energy and promote concentration.

But is that true? Yes and no. Dietician Susanne Kupczyk from the Interdisciplinary Center for Metabolism at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin explains in a message from the dpa news agency that the assumption is basically "already correct". "But it's more about carbohydrates," which in the body all to glucose - ie glucose - are degraded. "The brain then takes its part."

Energy is provided quickly
According to experts, our brain consumes 20 percent of the total energy that we metabolize from ingested food and burns 20 grams of glucose every day (glucose). Since the glucose in the brain can not be stored, as in the muscles, it is dependent on a stable blood sugar level.

If this falls off, concentration and ability to think disappear. If we take simple sugars, for example in the form of chocolates or grape sugar candies, this initially causes the blood sugar level to skyrocket. Energy is provided faster.

For children completely unsuitable
"But it is also used up quickly and you get into a performance low," explains Kupczyk. According to the dietician, it would be better to have four to six small meals with complex carbohydrates (whole grains, rice, potatoes or pasta) during the day when working on stress - this is how you prevent the loss of energy.

For some people, glucose is not recommended anyway, other experts say. As the consumer center writes on its website: "The ability of dextrose to get into the blood quickly, can be useful for athletic excellence."

But: "It is completely unsuitable for playing children because it only delivers" empty "calories and can trigger food cravings due to the rapid processing and resulting blood sugar fluctuations." (Ad)