Is the energy consumption of the brain higher than that of exercise

The energy consumption of muscle contractions throughout the body during exercise is usually higher than that of the brain during thinking. The brain consumes 20% of its basal metabolic energy in a resting state, while high-intensity exercise can increase energy consumption to 5-15 times that of basal metabolism. As a high energy consuming organ, the brain mainly relies on glucose for energy supply in a resting state, consuming about 300-500 kcal per day to maintain basic functions such as neuronal electrical signal transmission and synaptic activity. When engaged in deep thinking or complex cognitive tasks, brain blood flow and oxygen consumption only increase by 5-10%, with limited increase in energy consumption. During exercise, skeletal muscles rapidly break down glycogen and fat through aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. For example, jogging for 30 minutes consumes 200-400 calories, while football matches can consume 1000-1500 calories throughout the game. Muscle contraction requires a large amount of adenosine triphosphate energy supply, and its energy consumption intensity per unit time is significantly higher than that of brain cell metabolism. In special circumstances such as epileptic seizures or excessive use of the brain, abnormal brain discharges may lead to a sudden increase in local energy consumption, but the duration is relatively short. Marathon and other endurance sports provide continuous energy through fat mobilization, with a total energy consumption of 2000-3000 kilocalories. Maintaining a balanced diet can help meet both mental and physical activity needs, while supplementing carbohydrates in moderation can maintain blood sugar stability. High quality protein and healthy fats are beneficial for nerve repair and muscle synthesis. Regular exercise can improve mitochondrial efficiency and optimize energy metabolism allocation.