Food for Finals Week

Finals week can be a great source of stress and can trigger stress eating for students as they write papers and study for exams. Here are some foods that are beneficial to eat during finals week that boost brain power and hopefully make you feel less stressed:

Omega-3 rich foods:
DHA and EPA, two types of omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain development and are associated with lower risk of depression, better moods, and better concentration. Examples of such foods are salmon and walnuts.

Slower-burning carbohydrates or low-glycemic-index foods:
Foods like oatmeal or bran cereals help maintain concentration and attention in addition to leaving you full.

Iron-rich foods:
Research shows that being even mildly iron-deficient affects learning, memory and attention. Luckily there are a variety of foods that are rich in iron such as beans, dark leafy greens like kale, chard or spinach, red meat, tofu and edamame.

Water and Water-Filled Foods:
Staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp, your mood stable and your motivation intact. When you're well-hydrated, you can think through a problem more easily. Some examples of water-filled foods are watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries and salad greens.


All information was taken from this article that also includes recipes for each brain boosting food: http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/healthy_aging/foods_that_boost_brain_power

Photos:
http://www.humanesocietyvc.org/news/walnuts-are-here-2/
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20440834_2,00.html
http://atasteofbrazil.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/brazilian-beans/
http://beautypunk.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/the-wonderful-benefits-of-cucumbers/