Exam diet: Foods to boost your brain power

Read this in Hindi. The exam season is around the corner and students can already feel the nerves jangling and the stress setting in. One of the flipsides of exams is that our normally healthy diet g

By: Naini Setalvad | | Updated: August 4, 2016 12:16 pm

Read this in Hindi.
The exam season is around the corner and students can already feel the nerves jangling and the stress setting in. One of the flipsides of exams is that our normally healthy diet goes for a toss and we end up eating a lot of unhealthy snacks with no nutritious value. Renowned dietician, nutritionist and obesity consultant Naini Setalvad, the importance of eating right during this period.

During the dreaded exam season, everyone struggles to find time to eat, study, sleep and even squeeze in a few moments for a break. After the exams, we look at ourselves and realise how much weight we put on. Here’s a simple dietary tips that will help you avoid the ‘exam weight’ and also boost your brain power with food.

Start with a glass of water

Start the day early. Have a glass of water on waking up. This will hydrate you and keep you refreshed. Since the body has had no intake over several hours, you are dehydrated on waking up. Drinking water ‘switches on’ your brain and your body to start the day afresh. It is also a nice, gentle way to ease your digestive system into the rest of the day. Water is the best way to prevent and chase away fatigue – be it physical or mental.

Grab a fruit

The very next thing to eat in your day is a fruit. They are high in fibre, and contain natural sugar. This way, they provide consistent energy over a long period of time. Take a banana for instance. It stimulates the release of certain neurochemicals which not only boost the mood, but also makes you more alert and improves your concentration levels. Fruits, in general, contain negligible fat and are great energy suppliers over a long period of time. Always remember that natural sugars are far better for you than synthetic or artificial sugar. Dried fruits (prunes, raisins, apricots, dry figs and dates) are also great and can be carried around as a great on-the-go snack, especially for children who are at tuitions all day.

Drink lots of fluids

In between, keep yourself revived with a drink of nimbu paani and rock salt. You could also have coconut water which due to its high potassium and mineral content replenishes your mineral levels. Both these will keep you refreshed and energised over a long period of time. Coconut flesh or malai is also another great food for the brain, so don’t discard it.

Switch to ‘healthy’ caffeine

Those wishing for a caffeine kick, switch to herbal tea or green tea – both are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. While caffeine does help improve concentration, the effect usually doesn’t last long. Caffeine drinks and even, to a certain degree, coffee, do more harm than good as they have excessive caffeine content. While you may think that energy drinks and caffeine can help you stay awake, you need to realise that it actually affects your brain by slowing down the neurotransmitters that carry message from one cell to another. It causes the nerve cell to raise the level of stress hormone and makes one anxious, scared, angry or nervous and increases palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and increases your blood pressure. This causes a vicious cycle which increases acidity, loss of Vitamin B, calcium, sleeps disturbances, affects the heart, and raises cholesterol.

On the other hand tea – green, white or black – contains antioxidants and flavonoids which are excellent for the health and also tend to be lower in caffeine content. However, do not overdo it. Instead of caffeine you can chase off your sleep by taking a walk for a few minutes which also increases the blood flow to the brain, keeping you active and awake longer.

Go green

During meal times, remember to have at least one leafy vegetable daily. They contain iron, protein, fibre and calcium. All of these are essential for the brain function. B complex vitamins are also essential for the brain’s health.

Eat a variety of grains

Also eat a variety of whole grains. Have bajra roti in one meal, and have nachani roti in the next. Alternatives like barley, whole wheat and even basmati rice can be used. Whole grains also sustain you with steady energy over a long period of time. Start your meal with a salad. This will include uncooked vegetables. These have more vitamins than their cooked versions, as sometimes some nutrients are lost in cooking. Salads will ensure that you get your antioxidants, which maintain your health and keep your immunity up, as we don’t want people falling sick just a few days before their exams! Protein foods enhance the brain’s production of dopamine, a natural brain chemical that helps one to feel alert. Therefore, it’s vital to have a pulse, beans, sprouts or even the occasional oily fish with your meals.

Quit gum and eat some dry fruits

Skip the chewing gum as a mouth freshener and opt for something more traditional. Chew on a mix of sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sunflower seeds. You will be feeding yourself a mix of various fats, as well as proteins. On a similar note, an excellent snack option is nuts. By consuming pistachios, almonds, cashew nuts and walnuts you will consume a mix of omega 3 fatty acids, omega 6 fatty acids, and a range of monounsaturated fatty acids. Almonds do indeed help boost the brain’s power, as they contain vitamin E. Cashew nuts contain zinc, whereas the omega 3 in walnuts and flax seeds is essential for the brain. Your brain is composed mainly of fat. Therefore, by eating a mix of all these fats, you will be literally feeding your brain and boost its power while improving its functioning.

Foods to avoid

There are foods which are to be avoided as well. White flour and white sugar are both atrocious for the brain and the entire body. They result in drowsiness because Vitamin B the energy-giving vitamin is leeched from the body. Unfortunately people land up eating more of these foods thinking they will get energy but they end up getting a sugar low which leaves them drained, depressed, tired and fatigued.

And lastly get proper sleep

It’s also important to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can result in poorer language ability and also decreases your attention levels. Sleep early because every hour of sleep before midnight equals two hours of sleep after. This will make your sure your memory and concentration levels are fired up in the morning. Basically, make a schedule. Include your study timings, your sleep timings and your food timings. This way, you will know beforehand what you’re going to do with your day. Regulating your food habits and making sure you stick by it will reduce stress and help you ace the exams!

For further tips about diet and nutrition you can consult Naini online on her website.

Published : February 18, 2013 9:20 am | Updated:August 4, 2016 12:16 pm

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