6 Best Brain Foods to Eat Before Taking a Test

Exams are one of the most stressful things we have to endure in our early years of life. Studying hard is just one part of it; the others include having a focused and clear mindset and not letting anxiety take over.

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re in the best possible headspace, along with having studied thoroughly and had a good night’s rest, is to eat a balanced meal of brain-boosting and energizing foods. It’s also important to know what to avoid eating before an exam. After all, the last thing you want to do is feel like dozing off the minute you pick up the pen!

That’s why we’ve written up this list of the best foods to eat before an exam, and what you should stay away from. This way, you’ll be as prepared as possible to take that test and be sure you’ll come out on top!

1. Nuts, Avocados, and Fish

The University of Maryland Medical Center says that any food that is rich in Omega-3 fats is great for boosting memory, concentration, and overall brain function. Since the human body cannot produce its own omega-3 fats, it’s important that it is ingested through food.

Foods like nuts, fish, and avocado will give you ample doses of omega-3. Walnuts and salmon are two of the best choices you can make here. Making them a regular part of your diet in the days before your exam is sure to help you in retaining better memory and allowing you to concentrate better.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli is a superfood packed to the brim with powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce inflammation, which will protect against brain deterioration.

But apart from that, it also contains large amounts of vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential to the production of sphingolipods, a very important type of fat found in brain cells. Studies in adults have also indicated that high intakes of vitamin K can lead to enhanced memory. All you need is one cup of broccoli, and that’s enough to fulfill more than a 100% of your RDA of vitamin K!

3. Dark chocolate

Chocolate has a world of benefits to provide, and the best way to get them is in its least compromised form – dark chocolate. Abundant in brain-boosting compounds such as caffeine, antioxidants, and flavanoids, it’s certainly something that’ll help you get ready for an exam. Not to mention eating chocolate has been linked to making people feel happier, which can surely help calm your nerves and relax your mind.

A study conducted on over 900 people concluded that those who ate chocolate more frequently were able to fare better on a series of tasks based on memory. This could possible be attributed to the flavanoids in dark chocolate that assemble in areas of the brain associated with learning and memory, thereby enhancing recall and even slowing down age-related brain function decline.

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