Here are some suggestions for great 'brainy food and ingredients' to help get you through study & exams!
At exam time every little bit helps, and feeding our brains the right way is massively important to help us concentrate and stay focused. A boost for your memory is also great to help you do the best you can with revisions!
Oats [carbohydrates]
Carbohydrates are the most important source of energy. However, eating the wrong type of carbs can lead to fatigue and drowsiness. Oats are the best representative of good carbs- full of nutrients, a great source of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. Oats are also low in sugar, which keeps your GI at a stable level. This is important if you don't want to get easily distracted! Oats keep your brain fueled with nutrition, and your belly feeling fuller for longer!
Protein
Eating adequate amounts of protein provides your body with its essential building blocks. The brain's cells communicate with one another via chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which are made up of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Protein also helps your body to maintain a healthy blood sugar level which is important to maintain long-term concentration.
Almonds and Seeds
Both are an ideal source of good fats and omega- 3, which nurtures your brain cells and improve working memory. It also curbs your appetite so you’ll be able to fully concentrate on your current task!
Want some easy and yummy recipe for that brainy food?
Why not try our
Breakfast Cookie Mix - Whole Oats & Seeds
Ingredients list includes ✔️ Australian Rolled Oats, ✔️ Australian Milled Oats,✔️ Funch 4 Seed Mix (Blended Sunflower Seeds, Linseed, Pepitas, Chia Seeds) ✔️ Puffed Brown Rice (Brown Rice, Rice Bran, Water), Organic Desiccated Coconut
Check out the simple recipe here
4 Seed Mix - Blended Sunflower Seeds, Linseed, Pepitas, Chia Seeds
This mix is already crushed to make it perfect for giving a super nutritional boost to smoothies, as a salad topper, sprinkled on breakfast or added to baking.
Find out more here
Chocolate + Chia Protein Ball Mix
Ingredients list includes ✔️Australian Milled Oats,✔️ Organic Raw Cacao Powder (16%), Organic Desiccated Coconut, ✔️Chia Seeds (8%), ✔️ Pepitas, ✔️ Sunflower Seeds, ✔️ Pure Raw Organic Pea Protein Powder
Check out the simple recipe here
More about food and your brain
Here is some more info about it from Psychology Today
The brain and its long spidery neurons are essentially made of fat, but they communicate with each other via proteins that we eat. The hormones and enzymes that cause chemical changes and control all body processes are made of proteins.
Have you ever noticed that a high carbohydrate lunch can make you feel sluggish? Or that eating protein in the middle of the day keeps you more alert through the afternoon? Brain cells communicate with one another via chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which are usually made of amino acids, the building blocks of protein.
What you eat affects which nerve chemicals will be dominant in your brain, which affects how you feel. Carbohydrates can make you feel tired because they increase the brain's level of the amino acid tryptophan, which in turn spurs the brain to make the calming neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is important for normal sleep patterns, learning, blood pressure and appetite, among many other functions.
Eating protein raises the levels of another amino acid called tyrosine, which prompts the brain to manufacture norepinephrine and dopamine, other kinds of chemical messengers in the brain. Not as well known as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine can keep you energized because they promote alertness and activity.
