As I was sitting in class today starving because I did not have enough time to eat before class I started to wonder how that affects me. I know you are always suppose to eat before classes and test but are there a certain foods you should eat? If there was a food that could increase the learning ability of students, that would be a great discovery to for students across the country.
As I was searching this topic I found an article that shows how saturated fats in foods are decreasing the ability to students to learn. The saturated fats make students drowsy due the sudden intake of sugar. The body takes in the glucose from the saturated fats and then distributes it through the body. Once all the glucose is used it up the body feels tired and crashes. This same study shows that the ability to remember and focus in class is affected when eating these foods.
To combat the high fatty foods, there is an alternative that will make you remember better and have energy throughout the day. This article shows how omega 3 fatty acid foods are beneficial to your learning capability. Most people think of salmon as an omega 3 fatty acid foods, which could be hard to eat before class but there are snacks that have the same fatty acid. Walnuts and kiwis are great sources of omega 3 fatty acids and could be eaten walking to class in the morning. This article states that the molecules in the food affect the part of the brain that is responsible for memory.
There was a study done in Australia where 396 kids were given a drink containing omega 3 fatty acids everyday before school. Then there was a control group that did not take any supplements before school. These students ranged from age 6 to 12 and were monitored on how well they did on test and remembering subjects. After only 6 months, the students who drank the omega 3 fatty acids were shown to have improved in memory and test scores while the other students did not. You could reason that there might have been confounding third variables such as poverty levels of the students or work ethics, but the study still shows an increase in learning ability for the kids who took the omega 3 supplements.
To conclude, there are certain foods you should stay away from before you take a class or test, such as French fries and chicken nuggets since they are high in saturated fats. On the other hand, there are specific foods such as salmon and walnuts that you should try to eat before every class since it will help your memory. You may not see results of better memory from eating these foods immediately, but once you give it time you should be able to find yourself remember information better.
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/scientists-learn-how-food-affects-52668
http://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/how-diet-and-nutrition-impact-a-childs-learning-ability
http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-omega-3-health-benefits