Fresh vegetables are important components of a healthy diet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people don’t consider food when they think of important learning resources, but every primary school knows that children don’t learn well when they are hungry. This goes for older children and adults as well. When was the last time you could think clearly enough to read through your school books efficiently when you were hungry? But it’s not just the presence of food in your belly that helps you learn better, it’s also the quality of food that you put into your mouth. Your brain and body requires certain nutrients and building blocks to keep them functioning optimally and a constant diet of junk food, sugar and caffeine just won’t cut it.

 So whether you’re taking business courses, earning a degree or upgrading, here is some dietary advice to help you excel in school.

LotsofVegetables

Regardless of what specialty diet you look at, chances are it recommends eating your vegetables. Vegetables provide the body with a plethora of amino acids, vitamins, anti-oxidants, proteins, fibre and carbohydrates with which to give you energy and maintain your general health and wellbeing.

When you are cramming for exams or are swamped with schoolwork, you will be grateful for the energy and stamina that vegetables give you. It is also a lot easier to study when you are healthy than when you are sick!

NutsandSeeds

Nuts and seeds make great snacks for those times when you just can’t afford to cook. They also supply the brain with needed omega 3 and 6 fats that help lubricate and insulate the nerve cells, which will ensure your brain is functioning at maximum capacity. Eat a variety of nuts and seeds, as each one provides a different mix of essential fats.

Try to stay away from peanuts and peanut butter though. Peanuts are often grown with a lot of chemicals, which can stick to the nut. In addition, the oils in the peanut can go rancid pretty easily, especially if they have been transported over long distances and sitting on the shelves for a long time. As always, choose nuts and seeds that are fresh and organically grown.

FruitsforDessert

Fruits also make great snacks and desserts because they not only taste sweet, but they also contain plenty of anti-oxidants and vitamins A and C. Anti-oxidants are desirable because they neutralise free radicals in the body, thus preventing, limiting and also repairing the damage that free radicals cause. Vitamins A and C are necessary building blocks of your body, and they help to maintain a healthy immune system as well as play a key role in the body’s repair mechanisms.

ALittleMeatisOkay

Contrary to some opinions, a little meat is okay and can supply you with necessary iron in the body as well as vitamin B12, a vitamin which has many roles in the body’s metabolic processes that give you energy. Iron is necessary for the formation of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body, including your brain.

When eating meat, however, make sure that you choose meat that has been raised on organic feed and is free range. Animals living in the crowded unsanitary conditions of factory farms are stressed, constantly sick and fed unhealthy diets. This means that their meat often contains a lot of antibiotics and other medications like artificial growth hormones and is more likely to be diseased.

Eating healthy meat will keep you healthy; eating diseased contaminated meat will compromise your own well being over time.