There has always been a belief that what you eat can impact health, but modern research has indicated that your mental health can also be affected. This is due to the essential fats, vitamins and minerals, which so-called ‘brain food’ contain. Good brain food as recommended by nutritionists includes:
- avocadoes
- vegetables (especially leafy vegetables)
- fruits
- wholegrain
- wheat germ
- peanut butter
- eggs
- fish
In 2003 the BBC reported that there was an increase in the sale of ‘brain food’ at numerous large university towns during the exam period. Nutritionists recommend resisting the temptation to go for a quick fix from a vending machine and instead snacking on good snacks which are loaded with vitamin C.
Other foods which may help you when studying are functional foods i.e: foods which have added beneficial ingredients aimed at boosting your health and brain power. These are often specifically advertised with health claims, although it is questionable how much research has been conducted into these claims.
However, it’s not all bad news for fussy-eating students as researchers at the University of Florida claimed that students who had high calorie, low nutritional fast food meals performed better, comparatively, than their counterparts after eating. Researchers believe that the high carbohydrate content refuelled the brain providing students with an excess of energy. Researchers also examined the brain power of beer and found that half a pint of beer improves brain power by 20%, with moderate drinking reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s.
