Did you know that making a few simple, small changes in your diet can have huge effects on your clarity of mind, mood, concentration and overall health?
If you’re gunning for top grades, knowing our 5 study secrets and having a killer exam study plan helps a lot. But if you’re not physically in tip-top condition, you may not be able to achieve the academic results you want.
In this article, we’ll discover what we need to eat more of and what we need to avoid to enjoy all of those benefits and enhance our lives. Implement and make these simple changes in your diet and you’ll soon feel the powerful effects on how you think, learn and feel! With a healthier body and mind, you’ll also quickly notice an improvement in your academic success.
First, Cut Back on the Nasty Stuff!
There are some kinds of food which will affect us in totally negative ways if we eat them too much. There are three nasty food types we should avoid whenever possible.
Nasty Food #1: Sugar
Sugar causes a huge insulin spike which elevates our mood and gives us a rush of energy. The only problem is it comes crashing down just as quickly! When the sugar rush is over we suffer from brain fog, sluggish energy levels and find it extremely difficult to concentrate. Try to avoid sugar when studying for big exams or before going to class.
Sugar is also extremely bad for your body when consumed in excess. Did you know that diabetes is becoming a global epidemic and is linked to excessive consumption of sugar and junk foods?Limiting your sugar intake can only bring positive benefits to your life.
Nasty Food #2: Fast-Food
Fast-food actually breaks down and behaves much like sugar inside the body. It is fast to prepare because it consists mostly of simple carbohydrates which the digestive system can turn into glucose quickly and easy. This gives us the same quick sugar high and inevitable crash, making us sluggish and unproductivity throughout the day.
It’s OK to enjoy fast food once in a while but don’t make it a habit!There have also been studies and investigations recently into some of the hormones, chemicals and other unhealthy things pumped into the meat that makes up fast food. These have been linked to mood swings, depression and poor concentration.To give yourself the best chance of success at school you’ll need a clear mind, a stable mood and a healthy body. You wouldn’t put junk oil in a precious sports car, would you? So don’t put junk food into your even more precious body!
Nasty Food #3: E-Numbers
E Numbers are codes used on food labels to indicate the use of additives or artificial colours and preservatives. These are possibly the single worst thing we can put into our bodies and have been linked to depression, mood-swings and even some diseases.
More of these un-natural extras are in our food than ever. They are commonly found in candy, soda and fast food. You’ll want to avoid them wherever you can as they have a hugely negative impact and your body has not evolved to deal with them.
Next, Eat More Of These Good Foods!
Now that we know what to avoid, we can focus on the delicious, nutritious foods we should get more of. Pile these high on your plates and you’ll feel better, enjoy better health and notice a marked improved in your concentration and clarity of mind. This should then translate into better grades at school!
Good Food #1: Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 Fatty Acids are probably the best food for your brain on the planet. A lack of Omega 3 fatty acids has been linked to skin problems, anxiety, poor concentration, sleep problems and much more. Sounds terrible, right?
Luckily you can control this by choosing to eat more foods which are rich in Omega 3’s. They are found abundantly in fish, nuts and some spices like oregano. You can find more information about how to avoid omega 3 deficiencies at this site.
Get as much of these as possible and you’ll begin to sleep better, think more clearly and feel great!
Good Food #2: Complex Carbohydrates
Obviously for students this is a huge benefit! Having a steady supply of energy to feed your brain as you investigate and review your subject will allow you to keep going longer and pay better attention. Complex carbohydrates can be found in common foods we eat daily such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and pumpkin, beans, lentils, and peas.
It will also leave you feeling more stable and enhance your wellbeing.
Who doesn’t want more of that?
Good Food #3: Vitamin B-12
When you think about what concentration really is you will find it is just communication between cells in your brain. Each cell is coated in something called myelin which allows this communication to take place smoothly.
Vitamin B-12 has been shown to maintain this coating and therefore greatly aids your concentration. A lack of vitamin B-12 leads to this coating breaking down which has all kinds of negative impacts on the brain.
Since good concentration is one of the keys to academic success it makes sense to eat foods which boost it. Vitamin B-12 can be found in various foods, such as eggs, shellfish, crab, tofu and brans.
Try to get a daily dose of this vitamin if you can. You could easily do so at breakfast each day, couldn’t you?
Summary
There’s an old saying that you are what you eat.
As research into nutrition and its effects on the body progresses, more and more evidence is piling up that what we put into our mouths can affect us in unlimited ways. A healthy diet maximizes health, improves concentration, brightens our mood and improves our lives overall, not just in our academics.
Now that you’ve discovered what we need to eat more of and what we need to avoid to enjoy all of those benefits and enhance our lives, we hope you’ll implement the tips you’ve learnt today to improve your health, memory, concentration and mood!
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