8 Essential Foods to Eat When Studying
Knowing the foods to eat when studying can help you in many ways. And if you are looking to pull an all-nighter or even work for long hours, having these foods ready for a quick snack can help you.
Why is it Important to Eat Before Studying?
According to studies, it is essential to eat before studying. It is because blood flows properly to the brain when you eat. Eating a moderate amount of food will help you stay focused and help you achieve favorable results in your exams.
8 Essential Foods to Eat When Studying
Consuming a well-balanced diet is generally helpful to your health. However, certain foods work in a way that helps your brain function better and promotes mental health.
Berries
All kinds of berries are rich in antioxidants, but eating berries also boost mental performance and protect the brain’s health. Berries like blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries are excellent sources of anthocyanins.
This compound help improve the brain’s function as it increases the blood flow in the brain. Anthocyanin protects the brain from inflammation by improving cellular processes and nerve cell production pathways.
Coffee
Everyone loves coffee. The truth is, some people cannot “function” without drinking it first. However, coffee is not only good for waking up your senses, but it is also helpful in boosting your mental focus. Of course, you must limit your coffee consumption too. According to studies, drinking more than five cups of coffee can cause sleep disturbances and other harmful effects.
Dark Chocolate
Flavonoids found in dark chocolates are essential for your brain’s performance. It also prevents your brain from mental fatigue and improves insulin sensitivity which uses sugar from the blood cells for energy.
Dark chocolate and other cocoa products help boost the blood flow to the brain and increase memory function. The flavonoids in dark chocolate or cocoa can also pass the blood-brain barriers, directly acting on the control memory and attention areas.
Nuts
A handful of almonds, walnut, and other nuts are packed with Vitamin E and zinc; both help increase the brain’s reasoning skills and the blood flow to the brain waves.
Studies also show that people who consume more nuts and vegetables have improved reaction time than those who do not. Besides Vitamin E and zinc, nuts are also rich in protein, healthy fats, and fiber. While these are great benefits, be sure you’re not allergic to nuts before eating them.
Green tea
If you love drinking tea, then green tea is a good option. It contains L-theanine, caffeine, and amino acids to help boost the brain’s power and lessen stress. According to studies, drinking green tea can enhance the brain’s function within 30 minutes.
Matcha is an excellent choice if you want to drink green tea. It contains twice the amount of L-theanine as other types of tea and can help boost your attention even better.
Citrus fruits
Fruits are also a great addition to the foods to eat when studying. Among other fruits, eating citrus fruits is linked with boosting the brain’s health. They are also rich in flavonoids that protect nerve cells from injuries, reduce mental decline, and promote cognitive performance.
Citrus fruits like orange or grapefruit can enhance the blood flow to the brain. So, if you are preparing for an exam, drinking about 500 ml of 100% orange juice eight weeks before taking it can help boost your performance.
Pumpkin seeds
Although pumpkin seeds were not entirely proven to affect the brain’s function directly, they are rich in micronutrients. These micronutrients are linked to memory, brain health, and learning. Snacking on pumpkin seeds while studying can benefit you as they are rich in antioxidants, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc – all are needed by the brain.
Vegetables
You’ve probably heard your parents eat your vegetables, and they are right. Green, red, and yellow vegetables specifically are helpful in terms of brain function. These are rich in carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all essential to your mental performance and memory.
Eating kale, a superfood is beneficial to your diet and helps prevent age-related mental decline. Many health experts also recommend the inclusion of green salads in your diet to help enhance your brain’s activity.
Before Taking the Exams
Be sure to get enough sleep, exercise, and breaks from studying. While your diet plays an important role, spacing out your lecture notes and study materials as you are studying is also vital for your test performance.
Now that you know what foods to eat while studying, go ahead and fix yourself some snacks. Make sure that you don’t overeat as well. Keeping everything in balance will surely help you nail the upcoming exams; best of luck!
