Students often spend years perfecting their study techniques, cramming for an exam the night before, or meticulously going through hundreds of flashcards a week in advance. But what if the key to academic success isn’t about what’s written on a piece of paper, but what people put in their stomach?
Having a healthy diet and understanding proper nutrition plays an important role in getting good grades, a common thought that doesn’t seem to cross students’ minds.
Feelings of fatigue going into a test could be attributed to the foods students eat. “The efficiency of this energy storage has to do with the quality and nutrient density of the food we intake,” said Nutrition Director of Amelia Island Health & Wellness Dr. Jane M. Brown. A higher amount of nutrients and vitamins in the food one consumes will provide them with more energy for longer, increasing their ability to perform well.
Nutrition for energy isn’t only beneficial to students inside the classroom, but also for athletes. “[Runners] are burning carbs at a rapid rate, so if they don’t properly refuel during a race, their race performance drops,” said Dr. Brown.
However, the impact of healthy eating doesn’t stop at energy. Dr. Brown said, “If blood glucose is too low, it can lead to mood swings.”
Like blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, imbalanced electrolyte levels can affect a student’s cognitive and emotional function. Low levels can cause headaches, which isn’t optimal when sitting down for an exam. Headaches could then lead to increased stress, exacerbating the student’s condition and causing their performance to decline.
“Our diet also contributes to vitamin and mineral needs which, if deficient, can lead to cognitive decline,” said Dr. Brown. “Our gut microbiome, obtained from fermented foods, has a role in many of our daily functions and can promote mood regulation.”
Director of The Center for Medical Sciences and US Science Teacher Lisa Peck agreed. She said, “A diet of highly processed food and refined sugars can lead to inflammation in the body, including the brain. This inflammation can cause impaired cognitive function, including problems with learning and memory.”
To have a prosperous academic career, students must first understand the food they put into their bodies and how it affects their physical and mental health. “Proper nutrition impacts our health, tissue growth and repair, and ability to prevent or fight disease,” said Peck. “Our body requires carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals in order to function properly. A well-balanced diet will provide all of these essential nutrients.”