Brain snacks - What to eat to fuel the brain while studying

Being a student, it’s important to keep your body and health in tip-top shape in order to perform at your maximum potential to effectively memorise and understand new information. Therefore, it’s essential to keep your brain nourished to ensure that it’s ready to take on difficult tasks and responsibilities. Having said that, here are some “brain snacks” you can munch on while studying.

Nuts
Nuts, like walnuts and cashews, are full of nutrients, such as vitamin E and zinc, and healthy fats like omega-3 crucial for proper brain functioning and performance. They’re also a great protein source and have the potential to improve cognitive performance, allowing you to get the most out of your study session. Overall, nuts provide as a great snack that can keep you full and satiated.

Berries
Berries, such as strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are one of the best foods to nourish your brain with. They have anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoid compounds, that have the potential to improve mental performance through various ways. This may include increasing blood flow to the brain, and improving specific signalling pathways that promote nerve cell production, essential for learning and memorising.

Matcha
Matcha is a type of finely ground powder derived from specially grown and processed green tea leaves, and is mostly consumed in east Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea. However, in the last few years, matcha and matcha-flavoured foods have been rising in popularity in the last few years due to the many benefits it possesses. Drinking matcha tea can provide you with many antioxidants that can provide protection against certain diseases and boost brain function, allowing improvements in attention, reaction times and memory.

Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is considered healthier and more nutritious than regular yogurt with its high protein content and minimal sugar. They can help keep you full and satisfied due to the high protein content. Additionally, they are packed with bone-building calcium, and important vitamins such as B12, which are essential for healthy production of red blood cells and proper functioning of your nervous system.

Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate can be very beneficial for you, despite the slight bitter taste. They are full of nutrients, antioxidants and natural stimulants that can keep you and your brain performing at the best of your ability. They also have the power to improve cognition and prevent memory loss, allowing you to have the best study session possible. Dark chocolate can boost your mood and relieve stress as they help increase your body’s production of endorphins, which are a type of chemicals aimed at relieving stress and increasing pleasure.

Takeaways
Incorporating a healthy diet and eating pattern is essential when studying, as certain foods, such as the ones listed above, have the potential to enhance your mental performance so you can do the best you can.

If you’re looking to enhance your ability to perform better and improve your overall health, try adding a few of the foods into your diet.