Top Brain Foods To Eat Before an Exam

It’s very unpleasant feeling when you become different from others. Problems with focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness are indications of a mental disorder.

To our loyal readers, it will not come as a surprise that we need certain bioactive substances to make our bodies work properly. The brain is not an exception, it also requires particular nutrients for healthy performance. There are endogenous compounds for memory, learning, and thinking, and for focus and motivation, physical strength and stamina, a better mood and relaxation, the human system produces them naturally. But they do not show up in our bodies out of nowhere. The famous football player Andrew Luck said that breakfast was the most important meal for him, it was his fuel for the whole day. Eating right made him a good athlete, he stated. We are sure that if you ask successful scientists, they would tell you something about their “smart” diets, too.

This is not a secret, though, you can find the information about foods and drinks for better learning on the net easily. Commonly, such menus consist of products that provide energy and endurance, increase stress resistance, and normalize overall emotional state. There is no way you can get through an exam period if you are worn out and laggard, and cannot retain anything. In order to avoid this, you should follow several simple instructions:

• you must eat timely. Remember, that some of your dietary rules may cause harm to your learning capacities. For instance, if you want to shed a couple of kilos, you should pass all exams first. Your brain needs adequate nutrition to work properly, and it has to include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper. Some of us cannot stomach anything in the morning, and it can be a problem. Still, the good thing to do is to have something before going to school, as your efforts will be compensated. Can you imagine what a shame it is to peruse dozens of books and then fail your tests because you are exhausted and all your thoughts are about a hamburger;
• remember that there are brain boosting foods and drinks, and there are those that can inhibit its performance for a long time. The former is commonly known: we need proteins, polyunsaturated fats, and complex carbohydrates, while the latter deserves our special attention. Make sure that your pre-exam breakfast does not contain simple carbohydrates — bakery, white bread, sugar, etc. They can cause an energy slump. Heavy foods and those that need long time for digestion can make you feel sleepy and sluggish;
• drinks are very important, too. You should not allow yourself to get dehydrated. Drink enough water, as it is vital for your day to day performance. Do not drink alcohol on the date of your tests or immediately around it, as you do not need a hangover and a confused mind when you are trying to get the highest scores. As well as with foods, sweet beverages are not recommended;
• do not experiment with new dishes right before something important, as new foods may result in unpredictable reactions of your body. What is good for your mate is not always good for you, so do not listen to anyone’s recommendations. You can take some multivitamins with your usual meals and take some useful snacks with you to school, as you may need some refreshment.

Do not stay up late, as on the exam eve you need more sleep rather than more learning. Sleep deprivation causes drowsiness, lack of concentration, and irritation, which in its turn slow down digestion. Thus, a sleepless night before a test will not give you any additional knowledge, but can make you nod off and feel nauseous.

Brief Information About Brain-Boosting Food

Your brain, though it has no muscles and performs no physical activity, it consumes an impressive share of all the nutrients that come into your body. It takes half of all fats and almost half of all water during the peaks of its activity, and a third of vitamins and one fifth of glucose also go to the central nervous system (shortened as CNS). As you see, you cannot take just some sugar or proteins and get the best results out of it. You brain is the boss that is in charge of all processes that take place in your organism, and it needs a well-balanced diet. Unfortunately, you will not find a single dish with all the necessary elements.

Proteins and amino acids are found in meat, fish, grains and nuts, dairy products, soy beans, eggs, etc. You can get healthy fats from olive and sunflower oil, salmon, seeds, walnuts, corn, and flax, and so on. Vitamins are everywhere, from vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, to greens with vitamin K and animal flesh that contains cobalamin, a.k.a B12. Complex carbs, unlike sugar, are burnt slower than simple ones, and they help regulate the glucose level and maintain high energy in our bodies. We usually consume them from fruits, vegetables, certain grains, yogurt, etc.

To compose a healthy diet for physical and mental performance, you need to combine different products. Breakfast will differ from lunch, and they both will differ from dinner, as it is important to consider what and when you eat. Further, we will give you more detailed information about this. For now, you have to remember that your everyday diet has to include all the elements necessary to keep your organism healthy and fully operational. Switch between plant and animal food, and try to eat only natural products. There is nothing worse than processed foods, artificial ingredients, trans fats, conservants, and heat-and-eat meals. No matter how tasty they are, we should not get too obsessed with food in a package.

Keep the Right Diet Beforehand

It is better to adhere to a balanced diet not just two-three days before the exams. You should try to treat your body with the care and attention it needs throughout your entire life. Your brain is the most complex machine on our planet — think about it. Sometimes we care about our cell phones more than about our brains. We eat junk food, drink sweet or energizing drinks, and abuse alcohol. All this affects our thinking capacities badly. Yes, we understand that modern life is not a monastery. Who can refuse a nice party with friends, or a tasty burger with cola? And there is no need to, you can enjoy your life as you like. But, at crucial moments, you better get a grip and get prepared for the coming tests in advance.

There are so many healthy diets, it seems like there must be as many as people on Earth. How can you choose the right one? For sure, no one can make this decision but you. If you take the common recommendations for healthy nutrition and compare it with different national cuisines, you will find out that people who live in the Mediterranean region seem to have the best proportion of ingredients in their meals. They traditionally eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, they often have fish, seafood, and poultry on their tables, as well as consume whole grains, olive oil, eggs, cheese, nuts, beans, legumes, and red wine. Thus, Greek, Italian, and French cuisines are rich with all necessary components of healthy nutrition. Such a diet is referred to as Mediterranean diet, but a lot of other cultures have similar traditions, too.

If you stick to this eating plan a for a couple of weeks, you will be paid in full during the exam period. It is like high-octane fuel for your mind, it makes the brain work smoothly and maintain its best efficiency for a long time. Thus, when the time comes, you are well-prepared for one last push. So, what is that sanative brain food? We will give you the information about the particular ingredients that must be in your daily menu if you wish to keep your mind sharp and bright.

List of the Most Useful Foods for Studying

We have figured out that we have to eat various foods for each meal, as they all comprise their own particular useful constituents. In order to cook an energizing breakfast, or a late supper, we have to know how each ingredient works separately. When we know this, we will be able to compose the most efficient recipe. Let’s see what effects we are expecting from the food for studying. Students hope that they can stay focused and wakeful, they need better memory, reasoning, task perception, and resolution. Self-esteem, positive spirit, and cold mind come to the aid, too. What products can give such effects?

First of all, the ones that nourish your brain with numerous bioactive elements. They all come to the CNS with blood, so we need the components that increase circulation and improve performance of the cardiovascular system. To produce neurotransmitters and hormones, which are implemented in the organization of the entire physiological and mental work of the human body, we need to consume their precursors. Certain foods promote the formation of new brain cells, while others protect them from damage and prolong their life. Let’s not forget about the natural scavengers that clean our brains of hazardous elements and waste products of neurons. Here is the list of such remedial foods and their main effects.

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is made of the cacao tree beans. They contain a little caffeine, which makes a dark chocolate bar a smooth memory booster and eugeroic. It works gently, with no excessive agitation or increase of heartbeat. With these delicious sweets, you can gain more attention and decrease the time necessary to understand and solve a problem. Roasted cocoa beans contain the organic chemicals that are metabolized into serotonin and dopamine. The former is a neurotransmitter of happiness and good mood, and the latter is the signaling molecule that enhances motivation, concentration, and cognitive capacities.

Eggs

Eggs supply our bodies with choline and cholesterol. Yes, we know that cholesterol is commonly thought to be something that should be avoided, but this is not quite true. More than a half of your brain tissues are actually fats. So, in order to keep a healthy performance of your nerve cells, your body will direct a quarter of all the cholesterol you eat to your brain. As for choline, it is crucially important for your thinking skills, as it is a precursor of another neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

The functions of this biochemical substance are numerous:

• it is employed to control over voluntary and involuntary movements, as well as unconscious processes in the body;
• acetylcholine exerts the vasodilating effects, inducing the release of nitric oxide and relaxing the vessel muscles;
• in CNS, it improves alertness, attention, and memory, and it enhances learning and productivity. It also improves sleep quality.

So, as you see, if you want to be smart, a couple of eggs for breakfast is the best choice.

Nuts

All edible nuts are good for your brain and overall health. They all contain good fats, healthy carbs, proteins, and a lot of other nutrients, almost in ideal proportion. Each nut is literally a little unit of fuel for your body, moreover, it is so easy to eat! Walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, etc. — all of them are rich sources of antioxidants, vitamins, and various amino acids that are the building blocks for vital neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine. Nuts cause antidepressant, eugeroic, nootropic, and anti-inflammatory effects. There is one common misconception, though. Peanuts, in spite of their official name, are actually beans. Thus, they do not exert the same actions. This does not mean that you should avoid them, as peanuts are a source of good fats, but they do not give you the energy boost that nuts do. Furthermore, if you like them, you should choose the natural and fresh products, as the mold that grows on this legume excretes a very dangerous carcinogen aflatoxin.

Olive Oil

Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat that is very good for memory and thinking. It also produces positive effects on your heart and vessels. Due to its beneficial virtues, olive oil is very popular in lots of cultures, including Mediterranean cultures. The cuisine of this region is impossible to imagine without this ingredient. The mechanism of its action is similar to that of eggs, as it delivers acetylcholine to your system and increases the efficiency of your brain. In addition, olive oil comprises vitamins E and K, which are powerful antioxidants and cognition boosters.

Salmon and Omega-3 Foods

The magical powers of omega-3 fatty acids are on everyone’s lips. The common opinion is if fish is the best source of these polyunsaturated fats, and it is true. Still, if you have no chance to buy some fresh salmon, you should not despair. There are three main omega-3 fats that are involved in human metabolism:

• alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA;
• eicosapentaenoic acid, shortened as EPA;
• docosahexaenoic acid, also known as DHA.

We cannot produce these substances endogenously, but they are vitally important for human metabolism. Hence, people have to consume them with foods. ALA is found in plants, walnuts, soybeans, seeds, algae, and various seed oils, like hemp, canola, linseed, clary sage, etc. It is also abundantly found in grass-fed beef and dairy products. We can further convert ALA into EPA, or take the latter from fish, fish oil, and fish entrails. The most popular dietary sources of eicosapentaenoic acid are cod liver and cold water fish, e.g. mackerel, herring, salmon, or sardines. Both ALA and EPA are the precursors for docosahexaenoic acid, which also occurs in fish and breast milk. DHA is the main building material for mammal brain, so a beef brain dish is a good choice if you need an abundant supply of nutrients for your memory, thinking, creativity, and attention.

Berries

Flavonoids that are amply present in berries are powerful antioxidants and exert many healing actions on human organisms. They increase dopamine in the brain, prevent the loss of dopaminergic neurons, and enhance their viability. These findings of the curative virtues of flavonoids encourage scientists to conduct further studies in order to use them for mental and neurological diseases. As for berries, you can eat them to fortify your diet with brain-boosting components.

Apples

And again, we come back to acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is found in apples, the edible fruits that are popular in just about all cultures of the world. They are also the source of the huge number of vitamins and minerals, which altogether make apples one of the best brain foods ever. Students who eat apples before tests show better results, so we recommend you making this fruit a necessary element of your menu.

Yogurt

Healthy performance of gastrointestinal system is critically important for exams. We do not need a heavy feeling in the abdomen, bloating, nausea, or an upset stomach during an important test. Why does it happen? We have special bacteria that live in our guts and help us convert the food we eat into useful nutrients and energy. Sometimes, we lack some of those microorganisms, then we face the negative consequences of dysbacteriosis. When one microbial colony gets too small, another one takes its place and grows too big. This disbalance is very dangerous for our body, as they all carry out their own function, each vitally important for normal life. On the other hand, when the gut flora works harmoniously, they do not let any bad microbes in and help each other to digest food and get rid of their own byproducts. When this harmony is disrupted, our waste removal systems can become overloaded, and there is a risk of pathogenic bacteria break through our natural defense.

Yogurt come to the aid of the digestive system better than anything else in this case. This dairy product is a rich source of useful probiotics, which substitute bad microbes in your system and regulates digestion. Remember, though, that it has to be a properly fermented yogurt, and if you have the time — it is better to make it yourself. It will not give you any advantages in studies, but it will heal your gastrointestinal system and help you get maximum benefits from the food you eat. It is good for overall health, including your brain.

Turmeric

Curcuma longa, or turmeric, is a spice from India. It was used there for centuries, both in Ayurvedic medicine and cuisine. The rhizomes of this plant contain curcumin and essential oils that produce curative effects for the whole body. Human brains are not an exception, as turmeric constituents promote the growth of new neurons and induce the inner system of brain self-recovery. They exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipophilic actions in the brain, which provide improved cognition and memory. Doctors hope that, after properly designed medical trials, curcumin can be approved for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia treatment.

Without any approvals, you can use turmeric to your brain’s benefit. Make sure that it is a natural product, as the synthetic spices have the same flavor but do more harm than good. Natural turmeric is very easy to use — you can add it to your tea or coffee and put in any dish you like. It is good because you do not need much of this ingredient to feel its maximum effects. 2.5 ml, which is only a half of a teaspoon, is enough for the whole day.

Broccoli

We really did not want to eat it when we were kids, did we? Student life is the best time to make broccoli a daily component of your diet. It contains vitamin K and choline, both of which are good for brain functioning. If you eat enough broccoli, you have better memory and a sharper mind. This green cabbage helps us in learning new material, and the antioxidant sulforaphane, which is present in the plant, induces the formation of new neurons and rebuilds our brains. Lutein, the pigment that gives broccoli its bright color, protects nerve cells in the gray matter, thus providing better reasoning abilities. With broccoli, you also get a vitamin С bomb, and one portion is enough for the whole day. Not speaking of the useful fiber that is good for digestion.

Prepare Ideal Menu for the Day Before Test

After we understand the general rules and the best brain-boosting ingredients, we can compose the ideal recipes of the breakfast, dinner, and supper to eat right before tests. First of all, remember the precautions we have already mentioned in this article:

• make sure that you have enough water in your diet. Even a little water deprivation may seriously decrease your attention and memory and diminish cognitive capacities. People feel sleepy and tired, and thinking becomes a really hard task when the brain does not get enough fluid. This is why it is a good idea to have a bottle of fresh bottle always with you, especially on exam day. You can easily track the amount of water you need every day. According to the World Health Organization, a healthy consumption should be around 30 ml per one kilogram of body weight. It means that a person who weighs 70 kilos, should drink more than 2 liters of water daily;
• if you are a coffee fan, you have to remember that this mind enhancer sometimes produces the opposite effects. Too much caffeine cause irritation and lack of concentration. Do not exceed your usual dose of coffee right before tests, as it will make you anxious rather than alert and productive. At the same time, the regular coffee drinkers should not quit this habit, instead, all you need is to choose the right dose which brings you good mood and energy. What is really important is the source of the energy booster you use. Natural drinks contain caffeine together with other bioactive substances, like antioxidants, amino acids, or flavonoids, which make them really beneficial for your health. So-called energy drinks, overloaded with sugar and dangerous chemicals, are the worst choice you can make;
• a lot of people believe that alcoholic beverages make them creative and sharp-minded. This philosophy is based on numerous studies, which investigate the healing properties of alcohol, mainly red wine. Experts claim that moderate consumption of this drink can provide positive effects for the cardiovascular system and general health. There is much evidence that the antioxidant resveratrol that is found in wine increases memory, mood, and learning. Some researchers even assert that this constituent stops the loss of neurons and protects human brains from neurological diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Unfortunately, people often forget about the word “moderate” and abuse alcohol. Ethanol, which is the main component of all liquors, breaks the connections between neurons and inhibits memory and cognition. It slows down the general functioning of our nervous system, especially in young students whose CNS is not completely formed until they are 25 years of age;
• there is a frightening tendency in recent times that people get more and more calories from sweet beverages and sugar in general. It is very bad for your health and brain, as sugar causes addiction and negatively affects cognitive functions. Chronic consumption of sweets can lead to brain impairments, loss of memory, and mental and mood disorders. Still, you should not ditch sugar abruptly before exams, as it can result in severe withdrawal.

So, enough about the precautions, let’s see what to eat before a test.

Breakfast

The key rule you have to learn and apply all the time is to eat your breakfast. It is not called the most important meal of the day in vain. This is especially crucial when you need all your energy and brain powers for learning and passing exams. Studies confirm that students who regularly eat their breakfasts get the highest scores at the examinations. The morning meal provides wakefulness, focus, and positive mood, all of which are important for better test results. It is also essential for the overall health of students. So, what are the magic ingredients of a smart breakfast?

Obviously, you cannot be full with just a cup of coffee and some sandwich. Snacks and energy bars are also not the best decision. Breakfast must include all necessary nutrients — proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Choose foods that contain a lot of complex carbs, as they give you energy. Try some omelet with vegetables and greens or spices, like rosemary, curry, curcuma, etc. Instead of a sweet dessert, eat an apple or a slice of a whole grain bread with a nut butter. Healthy bread with a salad made of avocados, tomatoes, greens, and olive oil will provide an energizing breakfast, too. Yogurt or whey protein smoothie with berries, almonds and walnuts, and coconut or its milk are the good source of probiotics and nutrients that will supply you with all you need for success in examinations.

There are no strict rules, though, as for the choice of ingredients of your breakfast menu. Just keep in mind that they must provide your brain with healthy nutrition. Add fruits, spices, or natural brain-boosting supplements if you like, such as spinach and mushrooms, lean meat, or fish. Avoid heavy foods and sugary drinks, as they can cause an energy crash soon after you have your meal.

Dinner and Supper

Usually, though not necessarily, exams take place in the mornings. But what if you have to go to the university to pass your tests in the second half of the day? You would need a wholesome lunch or dinner, and the rules for these meals are the same. The food should be well-balanced to provide the body with a healthy glucose level in the blood, building blocks for your cells and proteins, and other bioactive components. For normal brain performance, we need to consume the precursors of the main hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate our mood, alertness, memory, and thinking:

• acetylcholine;
• serotonin;
• dopamine;
• adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Dopamine itself is a precursor for the last two, thus if you have high DA (stands for dopamine) — your body can synthesize enough of them. These three signaling substances are responsible for focus, memory, cognition, wakefulness, readiness for action, fight or flight response, physical endurance, and emotional balance. In order to energize our bodies, we need glucose, which we get from complex and simple carbs. They also induce serotonin production in the brain. Amino acids are the precursors of proteins and promote growth and protection of the nerve cells. Certainly, you must have enough poly- and monounsaturated fats, as they nourish your brain and stabilize your sugar level.

As an example of a healthy supper or dinner, you can eat the following:

• scramble an egg and dip a salmon steak in it, then put it in the frying pan. Add some salt, pepper, rosemary, sage, or any other seasoning. Cook until it is golden, then you can add some grated cheese on top;
• bake broccoli in the oven for 15 minutes with turmeric, you can add some seeds and olive oil;
• melt butter on the pan and add some leafy green vegetables, like collards, kale or chard with pumpkin seeds. Do not let it burn, stir it often;
• the ideal dessert for the dinner is a yogurt parfait with fruits, nuts, berries, and dark chocolate.

Serve salmon and vegetables while hot, and you can have some fresh juice or water with it. As for the dessert, it has to stay cold until you put it on the table, and you should have it with a cup of green tea and a little honey.

Healthy Snacks Between Meals

We have already told you that you should take a bottle of water with you to your exam, and drink it whenever you need. It is even better to do it before you feel thirsty, as this feeling is a sign of dehydration, which means that your brain is already less productive than it should be. In April 2012, BBC published an article about the studies of 447 students. Those of them who went to tests with the bottle of water showed 10% better results.

If it is allowed in your school or university, you can take some snacks with you to have a bite if the exams last longer than you expected. Hunger, as well as thirst, is a bad assistant in studies. Some healthy snacks will prevent the fluctuations of the blood sugar level and resupply fats and proteins necessary for normal performance. To meet those needs, you can grab some yogurt or cheese with an apple, or have a dark chocolate bar with nuts. Vegetables and fruits are good, too, and you can try a so-called trail mix, which may include dried fruits, granola, nuts, and chocolate. Whole grain chips with a savory avocado sauce can be a good choice, though they are not so handy to eat in the classroom.

A senior editor of Everyday Health Amy Kraft claims that even chewing gum can help a person to concentrate on the tasks and perform better during the examinations. She encourages teachers to let their students chew gums as it increases the level of oxygen in the brain, which leads to enhanced attention and memory. Her statements are based on British studies which involved two groups of students. The gum chewers showed better results during the tests. You can also eat mints with peppermint or green tea extracts. These compounds can improve retention, focus, and learning. L-theanine is also known as booster of dopamine, GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), and serotonin. They alleviate anxiety, elevate mood, and cognition. Even a smell can help you pass the exams, and the rosemary scent was used as a smart remedy in Ancient Greece. It appears that the volatiles in the rosemary essential oil, especially eucaliptol, enter the bloodstream and increase acetylcholine in the brain.

How to Stay Focused on the Exam?

To take stock of this article, let us recall the general rules of a smart diet. You should eat healthy and diversified food. There is no reason to count proteins, fats, and carbs in each ingredient, but you should pay attention to their nutrient content. If you consume all that your brain needs — you will be rewarded. Do not make it something situational, but try to adhere to Mediterranean meals all the time. If you eat healthy throughout the entire school year, you will not have any problems with your learning. Obviously, you will have to study hard and fulfill all tasks, no food can do this for you, but it can make the studying and tasks much easier.

Unfortunately, a solid preparation to the exams does not give any guarantee that everything will work well. There is always a chance that something will let you down — in spite of all healthy foods and good sleep, you still can feel fatigued and lack concentration. Is there any chance to avoid such unpleasant surprises? Yes there is, you can buy professional pharmaceutical drugs in ModafinilXL, which are specially designed for better vigilance and focus. We sell tablets with the active constituents modafinil and armodafinil. These medicines are well-known as potent eugeroics, which means the drugs that promote wakefulness.

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