The Evolution of Energy: From Single Cells to Human Brain Power

Since the dawn of time, life has been all about converting energy into action. From matter to life, the jump was dependent on the available sources. The first single-celled organisms could form because the conditions slowly became ideal here, on Earth. The Sun is just at the right distance, water slowly filled the trenches, and this, Life was born.

The Sun: Earth's Primary Energy Source

The original energy source is the Sun. These newly formed single-celled organisms were capable, using photosynthesis, to capture sunlight as the energy source. During the process, they turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. That’s right, they started to fill the water and air with oxygen, and they were creating glucose in the process. These two became essential energy sources for more complex organisms.

The Rise of Complex Organisms

As we go up the ladder, the energy sources become dependent on the lower level organisms. Plants still use the Sun and turn it into energy using photosynthesis. However, they are the energy sources for herbivore animals, for whom oxygen is a necessary condition to live. Herbivores need more than just sunlight, as their biology requires more energy to function properly. This jump in energy requirement means new energy sources, like the glucose created by photosynthesis. Thus, plants became the energy source for the next level.

The Energy Demands of Evolution

As animals started filling the space, carnivores started becoming more and more prevalent. The energy stored in the meat of other animals turned out to be the finest source for them. The fight for survival is now dependent on the capabilities and the effectiveness of the animal. If you are a herbivore, you better have some kind of defence mechanism to fight off carnivores. And, if you are a carnivore, you are also fighting for the same animals as your energy source. This created the so-called Cyrcle of Life. Each organism is carefully placed in the ecosystem.

The Human Brain: A Unique Energy Consumer

The next level of evolution meant higher energy requirements, compared to the body size. This is because the brain started it’s own unique way of creation. Humans now have the need to feed their brain with 20% of their total energy consumption. This is the highest in any organism.

Modern Human Energy Needs

We are perfectly adapted to use any kind of natural energy source on Earth, and, as we became more complex, we learned how to create our own energy sources as well. We can artificially extend the shelf-life of foods, or make them more digestible, like meat with fire. Our energy source is still oxygen, water, plants, meat, the same as all other organisms. But we can cultivate our own sources. Breeding plants and animals close to where we live meant we needed less and less energy for survival, and we can focus more and more in our brain, on creation.

Optimizing Your Body's Energy Sources

We have the highest brain-to-body ratio ever seen on the planet. Our brains are perfect machines, and the quality of energy required to run it effectively is utterly important. As we can now artificially create energy sources and make food more accessible, we need to be careful with what we actually consume. The nutrients required to run our body is more complex than ever. Our diet is the most varied out of any organism. The agricultural boom, however, made people rely on food in their vicinity. If you plant wheat, then you eat mostly that. This creates an imbalance of vitamins and nutrients in the body, making illnesses and death more prevalent.

If we want to change our future, we need to take more care of what we consume. Satisfying the needs of nutrients and vitamins is essential if you want to create the perfect conditions for life within your body. Otherwise, you will be prone to a short and miserable life.