Keeping up your energy

ARE you too tired to take in an afternoon lecture? Collapsing into bed, totally flaked out by the end of every day?

If you’re doing too much, then you have to examine your class schedule again. But if you’re tired without good reason, and every day is a struggle, then check out these tips and put some energy back into your day.

Work your body

Being physically fit means that your body can stream oxygen and nutrients to your brain – the less fit you are, the less efficient your body-brain system will be.

Make space every day for a brisk 15-minute walk (make sure it’s brisk and not loitering) or do something fun at least three times a week like tennis or paintball.

Understand your brain on sugar

Our brains run on glucose but our bodies can’t store it. If you don’t eat often enough, your glucose or blood sugar levels drop and your brain drops out of gear too.

But if you overeat, the body can’t cope and the excess sugar is stored as fat – this is not good for you at all.

So the trick to keeping your brain fuelled is to make sure that you have a constant flow of blood sugar.

Do this by eating four or five small meals throughout the day rather than a few snacks and one big meal.

Watch what you eat

Junk and processed food is usually loaded with saturated fat, salt and sugar that bloat your body and low on vitamins and micronutrients that you need for good brain function. Be responsible for what you put in your mouth.

Buy a bag of mixed salad leaves, add some chopped tomato, cucumber and capsicum, toss in a splash of bottled low-fat salad dressing and enjoy it. Follow with fresh fruits. Do this twice a day.