October 3, 2008

Brain can use recycled energy

The human body is an incredible thing, there is no doubt about that and researchers are only just finding out some of the inner workings of the body. One such study has found that the brain is able to function on recycled energy in emergencies or when the body is working at higher levels.

Researchers from Holland and Denmark have discovered that as the body breaks down food and changes it into energy the muscles produce lactate as a by product of this process. It used to be thought that this built up to form lactic acid, which gives off the sensation of pain this can be noticed when exercising.

However, studies have found that lactic is actually used by the body as fuel; this is because high levels of lactate have been found in the bloodstream of people who have been exercising for some time.

The study has helped the researchers understand how the brain can cope with the demands that people put on their bodies.

Source [Live Science]