Jamie Goodwin

7 Brain Foods to Eat When Studying for the Praxis

There are lots of study tips to increase the effectiveness of your study time. But what about the food that you eat? Did you know that your snacks can impact your study sessions? They can. The best “brain foods” contain healthy fats, nutrients, glucose, and water that your brain needs to thrive during study sessions. Consider packing some of these brain foods for studying:

bowl of mixed nuts is a brain food for studying
Melchoir

Nuts

Nuts are packed with nutrients, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. This means that they can give you an energy boost. They also help your brain by:

  • Boosting your brain’s processing and information storing capabilities
  • Increasing your memory
  • Aiding the development of neurotransmitters
  • Preventing brain inflammation

So grab your favorite nuts. Whether you love walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, or cashews, you can reap great benefits from snacking on these while studying.

red apple as a brain food for studying
Abhijit Tembhekar

Apples

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it can also make your study sessions more effective. Apples are known to increase cognitive performance and brain health. They are also a healthy snack option that contain fiber and vitamin C, so you won’t experience a sugar crash later on.

Fish

Fish, especially wild caught salmon, is high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which can help your brain acquire and retain new information. Studies have also found that fish can improve memory and cognitive function.

dark chocolate is brain food for studying
Tiia Monto

Dark Chocolate

For all you chocolate lovers out there, chocolate can be a great study snack, too. You do, however, need to stick to dark chocolate, which contains fiber, iron, and magnesium. These nutrients increase blood flow to the brain to help boost your memory, manage your stress levels, increase your focus, and improve your ability to solve problems.

raspberries as a brain food for studying
User:Fir0002

Berries

Berries are a great option for studying, because they contain antioxidants. Most people know that antioxidants boost your immune system. They don’t, however, realize that antioxidants can boost your memory and mood. Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, and other berries are the perfect snacks for effective study sessions.

green smoothie with spinach for a brain food for studying
Kari Sullivan

Spinach

Dark leafy greens are full of vitamin K, nitrates, and folic acid. Spinach helps with the formation of new neuropathways and reverses memory loss. If you don’t like spinach, sneak it into a smoothie with lots of berries.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Some of the cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, and Brussel sprouts. Eat these veggies raw in order to get all of the nutrients they have to offer. These nutrients aid with memory retention, so they can help you remember what you’ve been studying during your study sessions.

It’s a good idea to pack these brain foods when you’re studying for the Praxis. Stay away from refined sugars, turkey, and copious amounts of caffeine or carbohydrates. These things can cause you to crash, making it difficult to focus and remember the things that you’re learning. Choose brain foods to aid your brain and help you effectively prepare for the exam.

Author

  • Jamie Goodwin

    Jamie graduated from Brigham Young University- Idaho with a degree in English Education. She spent several years teaching and tutoring students at the elementary, high school, and college level. She currently works as a contract writer and curriculum developer for online education courses. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time with her boys!

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