It’s almost summer-hot; the body feels rebellious against any extra clothing put on it; the dreams are all about splashing waves, ocean breezes and ice cream. What a familiar string of sensations! Allowing our sun-melted imaginations to roam that far, coming back to reality may seem depressing and dreary: There’s still school every day and studies are as intense as ever.
For a student, summer is indeed a tricky time. With all the term papers and exams, intellectual pressure rises as high as ever, making the brain crave more and more fuel. Simultaneously, very warm weather and the necessity to spend hours sitting and studying hard bring concerns about one’s physical health and comfort. To make both of these ends meet, eating right is vastly important.
It’s a scientifically proven fact that while we’re memorizing, doing research and writing papers, our brains require more energy. The fastest and most accessible way to fill them up is by grazing on something high in sugar and carbohydrates.
Coffee is also one of the most common ways to refresh the mind. How often, peering into the screen of a computer, or flipping the pages of a textbook, we catch ourselves thinking about something sweet, chocolate and caffeinated! Paradoxically, yielding to this longing is not the best way to increase concentration and productivity. After a brief period of alertness, we again fall into the rut of apathy and sleepiness.
Coffee and sugar stimulate the brain for only a brief stretch of time. Just an hour later, their magical effect fades away, leaving the brain as exhausted as ever. Getting up to fetch another cup of coffee is, unfortunately, not the best way out. To keep the brain working, one’s eating pattern during the day needs to be reconsidered.
First, it’s important to have good breakfast. Say “yes” to cereals, nuts, honey, citruses, melons and berries in particular. They contain microelements that perfectly set the brain up for the day. A bowl of blueberries or strawberries or some walnutty-muesli with a cup of green tea makes you feel energized and refreshed. Egg white is also extremely brain-friendly, so omelets and scrambled or boiled eggs are also good.
Keeping your thought-generator on until the evening is simple with all those gorgeous veggies that summer brings within reach. Green vegetables such as salad, broccoli and peppers contain a lot of antioxidants to revive your productivity. Fish, thanks to all the healthy non-saturated acids that are stored in it, also helps boost brain activity. If you still dream of a burst of something sweet on the tip of your tongue, go for dark chocolate. It won’t leave your brain drained of glucose, and the high level of cocoa powder in it will activate your creativity and improve your mood. Your batteries get a good recharge with no danger to your pancreas.
Finally, when studying hard, it’s important to drink enough water, since overworking the brain dehydrates it very quickly. Some fresh bottled water with a bit of lemon in it helps us concentrate, yet wakes us up, just like coffee. A bit of cola is also good, but because of all the sugar dissolved in it, the effect it produces is dubious: First it gives your brain some refreshment, it then makes you feel drowsy again.
Studying is hard work and requires a lot of brainpower. The food we eat can help stimulate intellectual activity naturally. Whether you cook your own meals or go to a cafeteria, don’t forget about healthy options that are always there.
Nadja Panchenko is a graduate student studying journalism and American studies who attended Ohio University last quarter and is a columnist for The Post. She is continuing her studies at Leipzig University. Email her at np577711@ohiou.edu.
