Calorie Restriction Improves Cognition – especially when combined with regular brain training

Calorie Restriction’s Impact on Memory and Cognition

Flash back to a decade ago. I had been working with a new program to improve memory that flashed a series of numbers on the computer screen. The challenge was to remember the numbers in the exact order that they were presented. Another part of the software asked for recalling them in reverse.

The program starts with just a couple of numbers and increases the numbers when your answer is correct.  I was able to get to nine pretty easily. Try it. First, give yourself 2 seconds to study these numbers:

8 6 5 2 3 4 9 5 7


Now look away from the screen or close your eyes and repeat the numbers. Did you get them right?

At first, I could get only 9 numbers, then I decided to try an experiment: I would do a low glucose fast from the middle of the afternoon until the next day. Then I would try the number test.

I wish I could produce a recording of the internal debate I had with myself during the fast. By 9:00 or 10:00 that evening, I was moderately hungry and feeling a little lightheaded. I thought to myself, this is a mistake: Tomorrow you will feel weak and the number test will be worse than ever. But I decided to stick it out and found it easy to go to sleep. The next morning was a surprise. I didn’t feel lightheaded at all – just the opposite. I felt happy, exhilarated, and extremely clear-headed. So I turned on my computer, still with a little trepidation and wondered how I would do on the number test. Across the screen they flashed: First, 9 numbers and, lo and behold, I graduated to 10 numbers. And for the first time, remembering ten numbers was easy. So the program put me into an 11-number strand, where I stayed for a few weeks.

By this time, I was convinced that this new form of calorie restriction, which I dubbed Daily Limited Fasting, improved cognition. I also found that regular practice improved my number recall significantly. I got to the point where I could do 13 numbers and 11 in reverse – farther than I had ever expected.

Calorie Restriction and Brain Training at LivingTheCRWay.com

LivingTheCRWay’s Getting Smarter pages and Forum emerged from these early experiences. We researched  the biochemistry to understand what contributed to my brain improvement and how to increase it – and shared our findings on these pages. The content is updated regularly with the findings and advice from expert in cognitive improvement.

David Shenk to Lead Teleconference

Maintaining and improving brain power is all-important to members of LivingTheCRWay.com, so we want you to have the very best brain training available. This is the reason why we are asking experts like author, David Shenk, to be featured guests on the CR Way Brain Booster teleconferences. David will host the August 15 teleconference. He has made a career of writing books on cognitive improvement. His latest book, The Genius in All of Us, provides beneficial advice on how regular practice can improve cognitive capabilities. Here is David’s relevant presentation on TED.         

 

 

As we prepare for the teleconference, please think about what you would like to ask David and send those questions to us. We will forward them to him in advance to help him prepare to give you the most benefit from his appearance. Here is more about David’s ideas in the CR Way Getting Smarter forum: Intelligent Practice. Become a free Healthy Start Calorie Restriction Diet Plan Member to access this content. 

 

 

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