This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Irvine chapter.
Tis’ the season….FOR MIDTERMS! That time of the quarter we all dread from day one. The time where procrastination and junk infest our daily routine and the library is really more like a second home. During this time, not many of us have the time or patience to prepare decadent dinners that satisfy our health and our wallets. So instead, I’ve prepared a list of 7 simple snacks that are quick and healthy ingredients to a successful study session:
- Eggs: Egg yolk is a leading source of choline which has been proven to enhance brain power by speeding up the sending of signals to the nerve cells in the brain. This helps with memory and retention.
- Fruit: Blueberries are high in antioxidants and strawberries are rich in fisetin which help with improving motor skills, learning capacity, and memory recall. Other good snacky fruits that help with recalling information are peaches, plums, oranges, and cherries.
- Soy: Soy products such as soy beans and soymilk contain a lot of choline, lecithin and isoflavones which help with cognitive functioning and memory recall. Choline also has long term benefits like slowing down memory loss and lecithin helps stop plague deposits from developing in the brain.
- Vegetables: Mom was right when she said “eat your veggies!” Vegetables are proven to have a lot of benefits to learning such as helping retain memory. Most all veggies help with this but specific ones that are good for snacking are carrots, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, red peppers, and mushrooms.
- Nuts: This salty snack is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E, Omega 3, and Omega 6 fatty acids which are known to boost your brain functioning. Not only that, but they also assist with boosting a positive mood. So when that stress and negativity hits you hard, rip open a bag of these guys and you’ll be looking at the glass half full before you know it!
- Whole Grains: Oatmeal , grains, rice or any type of whole wheat bread is rich in folate which helps the mind develop. These versatile grains help boost blood flow to the brain which improves it’s functioning and growth.
- Chocolate: Yes. I said it. Chocolate. The most beloved of all treats. This succulent, sweet, super-human snack has the power to not only improve mood and enhance sexual energy but can also help you study better! Who knew, right?! Chocolate contains stimulants which help you focus and concentrate. Dark chocolate contains flavanols which are also known to assist in cognitive functioning.
So there you have it. Your seven heavenly snacks, that will give you that extra boost during crunch time. Studying hard and getting sufficient rest is helpful, but a full tummy and a sharp mind might be that boost you need to get from a B to an A! Happy studying!