The new year has debuted, and along with it, a new quarter at Cal Poly is beginning. After such a long (and I am sure relaxing) break it can be a little arduous getting back into the swing of things at school. This week, as you ease back into classes or perhaps crash a few, be sure to stop by the grocery store and pick up a few foods that will keep you focused and jump start winter quarter.
The first food that probably pops into many college minds when they are in need of focus is a Five Hour Energy Shot, but let me remind you — that is not food.
So, if that option is eliminated right off the bat, what is the next go-to focus aid that college students reach for? Coffee. Yes, I will accept this as a focus food, but because of its well-known focus benefits, I really don’t feel the need to embark in explaining it anymore. Instead, I will reveal three of the foods that continuously prove to aid focus and overall brain health.
The first step in staying focused is becoming a regular fan of “fishy Fridays.”
Eating fish is a sure-fire way to promote brain health — wild salmon in particular is one of the best fish options. These fish are loaded with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids known to remove LDL (“bad” cholesterol), reduce inflammation in the brain and help regenerate nerve cells. The consumption of salmon is also shown to reduce risks in cognitive impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Avocado is another food high in healthy fats. Consuming these healthy fats can help prevent plaque build-up and keep blood vessels elastic. Elastic blood vessels and minimal plaque enables blood carrying oxygen to flow freely and easily to and from the brain, keeping your thinker in full throttle.
Avocados can be the perfect compliment to the first few group projects on your new syllabi list. Make group project time everyone’s favorite by bringing food to help keep the group focused and productive — bring some chips and guacamole made from those brain-boosting avocados. To keep the dip from browning, just toss the pit right into the prepared guacamole and it will stay that vibrant green for hours.
The last power food is the antioxidant-rich blueberry. These little berries fight off free-radicals throughout the body and brain. Similar to wild salmon, blueberries are shown to reduce inflammation in the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative consequences are linked with central nervous system inflammation, and thus, the reduction of such inflammation is associated with less cognitive decline and increased brain health throughout the aging process.
These are just three of the many foods that can aid in focus, but it is also important to note that if energy and focus is what you are aiming for this quarter, along with consuming these brainy choices, it is important to limit other focus draining foods.
Most of us were spoiled by our parents’ cooking as we went home for break, and as we return to San Luis Obispo, it is easy to load up on highly processed convenience foods. However, these foods are well known to promote lethargy or restlessness, the complete opposite of the desired focus. A bag of deep-fried chips every once in a while isn’t out of the question, but when you head to the grocery store each week, try to stick to the less processed foods on the perimeter of the store for the best focus-enhancing food options.