What food is best taken before an exam?

Question

Does anyone know what food is good to eat before sitting for an exam? Anyone has a routine exam meal to share? Any scientifically proven theories?

Answer 1

The neurotransmitters that are most sensitive to diet and influential in affecting mood are serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

Dopamine and norepinephrine are alertness chemicals. When they are produced we think and react more quickly, we feel more motivated, we are more attentive and overall, we are more mentally energetic.

Serotonin is a calming and relaxing chemical. When produced, feelings of stress and tension decrease, we feel sleepy and/or sluggish and our reaction time is slower.
Now that you have a better understanding of the role neurotransmitters play in brain function, let's look at the relationship between these neurotransmitters and the foods we eat.

The best way to eat for alertness is to have meals that contain protein, are low in fat, and have carbohydrates that won't drag you down. Mid-day is when your brain's supply of dopamine and norepinephrine is beginning to wane. When you supply the tyrosine (from eating protein), your brain will be ready to make it into more of the two alertness neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine).

Examples of some protein-packed foods are: fish, shellfish, poultry (without skin), very lean beef (trimmed), low-fat cottage cheese, skim or low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, dried peas and beans.

Eating carbohydrates without protein has a calming affect. How calming depends on the type of carbohydrates and the amount and time of day they are eaten. Eating carbohydrates that are low on the Glycemic Index will promote the more focused and calming aspect of serotonin release and less of the sleepy, sluggish feeling,

Low-Glycemic Carbohydrates: Brown rice, buckwheat, whole-grain rye bread, sourdough rye bread, pita bread, sweet potato, most wheat pastas.

Eating foods that require a strong insulin response, foods that are High-Glycemic, gets the most tryptophan into the brain and has the most serotonin produced.

High-Glycemic Carbohydrates: Sugar, white bread, rice cakes, wheat crackers, bagel, instant rice, baked potato, rice, pasta.

More foods that make you feel Smart:

Eggs, milk, liver, beef - According to research studies, these foods contain choline. Adults performed better in memory tests after eating foods containing choline. If you have a presentation or exam in the morning, make yourself an omelet for breakfast.

Prunes - Prunes contain twice the antioxidant of most other fruits. Antioxidant-rich diets disable reactive oxygen molecules linked to memory loss and mental deterioration.

Oatmeal - Foods that are low in fat and contain whole-grain carbohydrates give your brain memory-enhancing glucose.

Alert:

Apples, grape juice, avocadoes and broccoli - These foods contain Boron, which is responsible for hand-eye co-ordination, attention and short-term memory. Boron-rich foods also maintain healthy bone and blood-sugar levels.

Lemons - The smell of lemons can induce the feeling of alertness.


Good luck!

Answer 2

When I was in Nursing school, I always drank strong coffee and ate some sugar, like chocolate (no donuts, they tend to make you sluggish) or energy bars. Sugar gives you energy, coffee of course keeps you awake. it always worked for me and I graduated Alpha Beta Kappa. Good luck No scientific basis though, just my own thing

Answer 3

I like to eat omelete with toast and maybe berries...it's a very good, healthy, and very fulfilling meal that really gets the brain going.

Answer 4

Cabbage???
Before an exam???
Would hate to be sitting behind you!
Phewwwwwwwwwww!

Answer 5

i don't know of any studies but sleep and a normal meal are best. if you normally eat cereal, do that, just be careful not to overstuff yourself. i always talk a water bottle and a snack with me just in case. at a college level most prof are ok with that.

Answer 6

Chocolate.

Answer 7

curd rice and a banana
curd rice is easy to digest and the stomach requires less oxygen to digest it leaving a whole lot of oxygen for ur brain and ......u know what.

Answer 8

oatmeal is a great morning food gives u lots of energy & sticks with u longer

Answer 9

Tuna fish and avocado. Not scientific, but it always helps my energy , alertness, and memory

Answer 10

Try Idly and chutney. Its safe and oh...its Indian food.