The Wet Carbon Infrastructure of Life: How Energy Transforms Sunlight to Brain Energy
- Moira Newiss
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
We tend to think of food as calories, nutrients, or fuel. But that misses out the fascinating and complex process that enables us to have energy. And of course energy is everything when it comes to life.
If we take a step back and consider life on Earth is not just about what we eat, it is about how energy flows through a vast, interconnected system. A system powered by photons from sunlight, structured by carbon, and sustained through the movement of electrons in a wet water-based environment, by that I mean plants and animals.
You are not separate from this system. You are part of it. We are all part of the web of life and it all starts with light. Every meal you have ever eaten began as sunlight. Through photosynthesis, plants capture photons from the sun and convert that light into chemical energy. This is something that I am covering in the book I am writing, Mood, Mind & Mitochondria.
Although we probably never consider it, this is an electrical process. Light excites electrons in chlorophyll in plants, pushing them into a higher energy state. These energised electrons are then passed along a chain of proteins inside chloroplasts, creating a flow of energy, an electrical current at the microscopic level.
Water: The Silent Power Source
To keep this process going, plants split water (H₂O) which is broken apart into:
Electrons (which replace those lost from chlorophyll), protons (H⁺), and oxygen (O₂), which is released into the atmosphere. This is one of the most important reactions on Earth. It is the reason that water is essential on this planet for life to survive, it is the original electron donor. Without water, there is no electron flow through tissues. Without electron flow, there is no life.
Next comes an extraordinary step. Plants take carbon dioxide (CO₂), an invisible gas, and turn it into solid biological structure through the Calvin cycle. To do this they use the energy captured from light and “fix” carbon into glucose. You might remember this from your high school biology lessons. Glucose can then be assembled into starch, creating an energy store.
This means that plants turn sunlight and air into stored energy. When you eat, you are not just consuming carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. You are consuming an energy source made from sunlight. Food is packaged solar energy.
Animals, including humans, do not create energy. We simply transform it. When we eat plants, or animals that ate the plants, we take in carbon molecules rich in high-energy electrons. These electrons are then fed into our own internal energy systems. This is where mitochondria come in.
Mitochondria: Where Energy Is Released
Inside your cells are mitochondria, tiny structures that act as energy converters. Through cellular respiration, breaks down carbon-based molecules and extract their electrons. These electrons are passed along, the electron transport chain, inside the mitochondria, you might think of it like your own internal electrical circuit. At the end of this chain sits oxygen. Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, allowing the system to keep flowing. Without it, everything backs up. As electrons move through this system, energy is captured and stored as ATP, the molecule that powers nearly every process in your body.
Oxygen: The Molecule That Keeps You Alive
The reason you breath is your mitochondria, the oxygen you breathe is essential for energy production. Plants release oxygen as a byproduct of splitting water. You then use that same oxygen to extract energy from carbon. In doing so, you produce carbon dioxide and water and return them to the environment. It is a perfect biological loop. The plants then use the carbon dioxide to make their energy in an infinite and perfectly balanced way. This is the carbon cycle. Here is an image that I am using in my book to help illustrate it.
Whether it’s a piece of fruit, a steak, or a spoonful of starch, the energy inside it originated from the same source, the sun. When you think about life this way food is no longer just about calories, nutrients or fuel, it is about energy and without energy we would not survive. When we have problems with energy transformation we end up with poor health and this includes poor mental health. Health is all about how well your body manages the flow of energy and electrons. This is no different in your brain, in fact your brain is so energy intensive compared to its size, that it matters even more!
Mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and metabolic disease are all problems that involve a disruption in the flow and handling of energy. When these systems are working well energy is produced efficiently, cells function optimally and the brain has a stable fuel supply. When it doesn’t, energy becomes dysregulated, oxidative stress increases and systems begin to break down giving us mental health symptoms.
This is why nutrition particularly metabolic therapies like ketogenic diets can play a role, by changing how fuel is delivered and processed within this system.
If you want a practical guide to start improving your brain energy then download my FREE Ten Top Tips To Improve Your Brain Energy E-book.
It shares the key concepts that are important for you to grasp if you want to optimise your brain energy. It explains how brain energy works, what can go wrong with it and how you can improve it.
You can find it here.
You can also book a free 30-minute call with me to find out how I can help support you to achieve your health goals.
Disclaimer: Before changing your diet or lifestyle and taking any supplements always seek the advice of your doctor or another suitably qualified professional such as a nutritional therapist. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with regards to any questions you have about a medical condition.
Comments