Healthier food can fuel exam success
Makeup shouldn’t cost us the Earth
HEADING into term four means facing down end-ofyear exams.
But turning to energy drinks, chips and lollies for added brain power isn’t the best option.
A YouthInsight survey of more than 1000 young people found 45 per cent of students made less-healthy food choices during exam time.
The study found young people were turning to a mix of junk food, caffeine, sugary drinks and energy drinks (14 per cent) to help them cope with stress.
ReachOut CEO Ashley de Silva said that it was easy to want comfort food, but there were better options for young brains.
“We know that Australian students are more stressed than ever at exam time, with the number of young people seeking professional mental health and medical help doubling in the last 12 months,” he said.
“It’s tempting to rely on sugar and caffeine for a quick fix, but … without a balanced approach, you’re more likely to crash and burn.
“Healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water can have a big impact. It’s also important to be kind to yourself. So enjoy that Tim Tam but remember that cramming in lots of caffeine, sugar and junk food is unlikely to deliver the best results on exam day.”
Nutritionist Lee Holmes said good nutrition helped gave students clear heads while they were studying.
“It’s easy to get into the habit of reaching for a coffee or an energy drink instead of water, or munching on chips and chocolate, because there’s little to no preparation time required,” she said.
“But the better the fuel your brain gets, the better you perform mentally. Plus, cooking can be a relaxing activity and a good use of that precious study break time.
“Research shows that the best fuel for the brain comes from … the antioxidants in berries and other fruit and vegetables and fatty acids, found in things like oily fish.”