Cheap fast food is your regular college meal deal. But you want to keep healthy. You want to get rid of your wrinkles. You want to ace your tests. How will you keep up with the healthy living when you barely even have time to plan what you’ll have for lunch later? And the stress from the exhausting enrollment process and backbreaking hell week clings to you. One way to help you get through these, really, is to smarten up your diet.
The first step you go through enrollment is the issuance of the Form5. You’ll be waiting in line for at least an hour before you run up and down the stairs of the FC for the E-prerog. Both processes require great patience, energy, and sharp reaction time. One affordable, accessible, and health-smart food for this is sweet potato or kamote. An online article published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last November 2011 stated that “sweet potatoes contain a healthy dose of carbohydrates – the only fuel source for brain uses – which keep your mind alert and your energy at its highest levels.” It’s also rich in beta-carotene which improves cognitive functions, and hey, it costs less than 20 pesos.
Enrollment is a lengthy, somewhat tormenting process; you tend to forget the next thing to do. To avoid this form of short-term memory loss, caffeine intake is recommended. Why not grab a cup of coffee from Mang Narry’s? A BBC article by David Zinczenko said BBC British Researchers found just one cup of coffee can already enhance memory, attention, and problem solving skills. However too much coffee ruins your sleep cycle, so better keep it in moderation. Sleep restores brain energy after a long day’s work; you wouldn’t want to mess with it.
Another thing you shouldn’t mess with is the health of your nervous system. It’s your time to enjoy oily fish like fatty corned tuna from the Shopping Center. The essential omega-3 acids found in them are high in DHA levels, which is crucial for brain health. “Low DHA levels have been linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Fish also contains iodine which improves mental clarity (Zinczenko 2009).”
Now you’re exasperated with the heat. Avocado shake from Lutong Bahay’s will be the remedy. Avocado likewise contributes to a healthy brain. “It contains healthy fat that promotes blood flow keeping your mind functioning at its peak (Eric 2010).”
You’re studying for a test amidst the hell week and find it difficult to concentrate. You need eggs for breakfast. They improve concentration by providing necessary nutrients and protein while being low in saturated fat and calories. Studies by the AJCN show that one egg contains all nine essential amino acids and 6 grams of protein. Furthermore, other protein sources for a healthier mind include occasional burgers and ham sandwiches from UP Coop food stalls.
However there’s no food for the mind yummier than chocolates, which improve memory and focus. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that enhance focus and concentration, while milk chocolate improves memory and reaction time. So make it a habit to drink hot chocolate in the morning. Sipping on a cold Chuckie as well will satisfy your brain’s chocolate-y demands!
Finally, chewing on Happy Peanuts before taking a test may help you remember your notes, as peanuts promote stronger memory and even help fight insomnia.
Because of our hectic schedules, we resort to getting food in the cheapest and quickest way possible. It still pays to know what we stack in our stomachs though. After all, it’s for our mind’s own good.
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