Exam time?…6 Easy Tips To Boost Brain Power

As my youngest prepares for his A-Levels (I think) – I thought I’d give you some tips to help boost your youngsters’ brains in preparation for the extra work.  These guidelines will work for any age too!

• Drink up: A dehydrated brain cannot concentrate or retain information. Dehydration will also lower energy and contribute to headaches and migraines.  Depending on the weight of your child (and yourself), drink from 1.5 to 2.5 liters of water daily, sipped slowly through the day. Beware of energy drinks that can offer a quick boost of energy, usually followed by a big slump due to the sugar content.  Sweeteners will also affect concentration and make you feel thirsty.
• Second essential pillar of brain and body energy: oxygen! Brain cells cannot function optimally if you hold your breath. So take 5 deep tummy breaths before starting on your revisions or exam. Keep deeply breathing whenever you remember or if you feel nervous.
• Breakfast: Skipping breakfast is NOT an option if you want to keep your concentration and memory levels up during exams. Research shows that children are twice as likely to get above average grades when they eat breakfast.
• Breakfast ideas? Have some carbohydrates (for energy) like bread, porridge oats, muesli with protein (to keep hunger away), like nuts, seeds and eggs. Other options: houmous + avocado/egg/mackerel or smoked salmon on toast.
• Other important brain foods: Around revision/exam times, focus on good fats – to fuel your brain, particularly omega 3 fats in walnuts, seeds, oily fish (like salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring, anchovies), fish or krill oil (supplements – no cod liver oil – do not take omega 3 supplements if you are on blood thinners), green powders like spirulina and chlorella (added to juice or smoothies), eggs and green leafy vegetables. Read more about good fats here
• Examples of snacks: Add a teaspoon of chia seeds to your water bottle.  Smoothies with some green leaves + ½ tsp of spirulina or chlorella powder+ fruit for taste.  Bread/cut up vegetables and nut butter/houmous. Sardines in olive oil; bread/crackers + avocado and houmous. Walnuts (they look like a brain for a good reason). Other nuts (but not peanuts which have little nutritional value.)

Good luck to you all!

Picture: Freepik.com. – wayhomestudio

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