Top 5 Healthy Brain Foods
This post was written by Tiana Yom
Who thinks about eating a healthy, balanced diet during final exams? The majority of your time is spent studying, which makes unhealthy snacks super enticing. Unfortunately, those snacks tend to be high in fat, salt, and sugar – not necessarily the best fuel to help you ace your exams! And believe it or not, those options can enhance anxiety and stress levels. Your brain needs healthy foods to function effectively! Listed below are my top 5 healthy brain foods for finals week.
Top 5 Healthy Brain Foods
- Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants called flavonoids, blueberries improve mental acuity.
- Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole Grains: Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are filled with fiber, which help your brain function at its best by regulating your fuel supply. Some of the best fibrous foods include nuts, seeds, pears, flaxseeds, raisins, dates, apples with the skin, and whole grain cereal. My personal favorite is Cheerios!
- Nuts: Much of our brain’s cell structure is comprised of “healthy fats,” Omega-3 fatty acids being the most important. To help your brain repair itself, eat more foods in Omega-3s like walnuts, almonds, and ground flaxseed!
- Yogurt: Yogurt is loaded with the amino acid tyrosine, which is vital to the production of dopamine, noradrenalin, and other neurotransmitters that help improve memory and alertness. As tyrosine is easily depleted by stress, grab a container of yogurt during your next study break.
- Bananas: I saved the best for last. Packed with potassium and the natural sugar glucose, bananas give an instant boost of energy to the brain and will keep you feeling full for up to 2 hours.
While eating all of these foods, drink ample amounts of water to hydrate your brain. None of these items require any preparation and can be easily packed to take with you to study groups, exams, or to eat on route to the library. Added bonus – they’re all affordable!
What do you eat during finals week?
Good luck on your exams!
