Think Fast. Danish researchers publishing in the journal Clinical Nutrition report that a high-protein diet increased reaction time when compared to an average-protein diet.
They postulate that increases in plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids and phenylalanine in the high protein group may account for the improved reaction times, since these amino acids are known to play a role in neurotransmitter metabolism, cognitive function and brain cell repair.
Want to test your own? Take this reaction-time test next time you whip up your favorite protein drink.
[Note: No sheep were harmed in the making of this reaction-time test.]
