Top 10 Ingredients for Healthy Studying

From personal experience, the urge to reach for the chips when looking for an easy snack whilst studying is hard to resist. That is exactly why this post is being made, to guide you through any sort of study period in a healthy and nutritious way. This post was written using the Healthline, a website which is created and written by medical specialists to inform the public about Health-related facts.

Without further introduction, let’s move on to the Top 10 Ingredients for Healthy Studying.

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1. Blueberries

The first ingredient is pretty standard in most households and easily found in grocery stores. It is extremely rich in antioxidants, filled with vitamins and significantly improves cognitive functions. Blueberries are easily used for smoothies, in which some of these other ingredients can be present, and for making desserts. There’s pretty much a lot of recipes to create from Blueberries.

2. Dark Chocolate

This next one is a snack in which most people indulge in more often than they would like to admit, Chocolate. Most people eat a lot of milk chocolate, and although it may not be the best for you, it can be argued that it is the most delicious. Despite this, dark chocolate is still the right way to go. It’s rich in fiber and iron, rich in antioxidants, it raises HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or in other words “the good cholesterol” and improves brain function.

3. Green Tea

Green tea has been around for centuries and originated in China. It eventually spread to the rest of the world and our bodies are sure to thank. Other than the fact that it improves brain functions, it improves physical performance and includes antioxidants which may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer. Furthemore, some studies show that it may help prevent Alzheimer's, hence keeping the brain healthy.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of those ingredients that you’re likely to find in most recipes, especially around fall-winter time. Growing up I would eat and drink it around Thanksgiving and Christmas and only really thought about how delicious it was and not how healthy it was. It is important to first note that the standard kitchen cinnamon is “cassia cinnamon” which comes from the cinnamomum cassia tree, found in Southern China. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and may have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

5. Popcorn

You see popcorn everywhere… at the movie theater, at home and grocery stores have aisles filled with pre-popped or packaged popcorn. What many fail to notice is that microwave popcorn is often filled with trans fats and preservatives and are lined with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is not at all good for you.  Popcorn kernels that you buy and cook with your preferred added ingredients however, have many benefits. Popcorn is filled with vitamin B1, iron, and manganese. It is rich in polyphenol antioxidants which protect our cells, and high in fibers.

6. Nuts

Nuts are common snacks which include almonds, hazelnut, pine nuts and walnuts. They are often nutrient-rich and include high quantities of protein, fiber and vitamin E. They are filled with antioxidants and may lower cholesterol levels as well as triglyceride levels. Furthermore they may reduce inflammation and be beneficial for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

7. Apples

Apples are widely known as delicious and there are many different types of apples; some for the sweet-tooth and others for the sour-tooth. They are highly nutritious and include vitamins A, E, B1, B2 and B6. Furthermore, they are rich in polyphenols which, as mentioned, protect our cells from damage. They are packed with soluble fiber which helps reduce cholesterol, which in turn helps reduce heart disease. They have prebiotic effects, by containing pectin, and help with good gut bacteria.

8. Carrots

Carrots are a household vegetable which most, to everyone chooses when making or ordering food. They are filled with fibers and rich in vitamin A, K1 and B6, as well as Biotin and potassium. They include carotenoids which are substances with high antioxidant features. Furthermore they are great with lowering blood cholesterol levels and with eye health. There are some disadvantages to eating too much which includes your skin turning into an orange tinge or risk of contamination, which is why it’s super important to buy as organically as possible.

9. Grapes

Grapes have been used for centuries for not only snacking and food but to create some of the finest wines (irrelevant for this post but worth mentioning). Not only are they delicious and found in different varieties but they are rich in vitamins C, K and B6 and are rich antioxidants. Additionally, they contain a plant compound called resveratrol which studies have shown prevents cancer. Grapes protect against diabetes and reduce the risk of heart diseases, and just as carrots, they are great for eye health. Most relevant to studying is that eating grapes improves your cognitive functions as well as your mood.

10. Granola

Granola is often found in cereal, whether healthy or unhealthy, which is why keeping on the lookout is essential. Keeping on the lookout means paying attention to added sugars or even added ingredients. As granola naturally has sugars it is important to reduce the addition of refined sugars. The good side is that it is filled with proteins and fibers and significantly improves gut health as well as is the source for antioxidants. If you want to eat something which is contained in granola, is oats, which are highly recommended.

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The moral is to buy snacks which are nutrient rich but also delicious. Additionally, making sure they are organic, ensures that you will avoid any sort of contamination or unhealthy preservatives found often in pre-packaged foods. It goes without saying that there should be a balance, but when it comes to studying it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. Despite not all of these ingredients specifically tackling the improvement of cognitive functions, they all improve your health, which essentially does the same thing.

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Written by: Elle