Diet Tips For Students To Increase Concentration For Exams by Dr. C Shanmugapriya

Are you making the same mistake the majority of students make before an important exam? With the NEET PG exam fast approaching, most aspirants find themselves engrossed in their final revisions with hardly any time for sleep or even food. In fact, most students befriend caffeine and sugar to get through long study sessions.  Well, that's a big mistake!  Our brain needs glucose to function properly, and glucose comes from the food we eat. Maintaining a proper diet before an exam is as crucial as revising all the important topics from high-weightage subjects.  Read this article to know why you need to eat healthy before exams and what you must eat. 

Benefits of Eating Healthy Before Exams

Improves Concentration: Eating a balanced meal before an exam can help improve your concentration and mental clarity. Foods high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats can help provide sustained energy and keep your mind sharp. Helps in Stress management: Feeling stressed and anxious before an exam is natural. Stress can cause physical and mental symptoms that can interfere with exam performance, such as headaches, stomachaches, and anxiety. However, eating a nutritious meal can help calm your nerves and reduce the impact of stress on your body and mind. Also Read: Tips to Overcome Anxiety Sharpens Memory: Eating a healthy meal before an exam can help improve your memory and recall abilities. Certain foods, such as blueberries, nuts, and fish, contain nutrients that can improve brain function and boost memory. Overall, eating properly before an exam can help you feel more prepared, energized, and focused. It's important to choose nutritious foods that provide sustained energy and avoid foods that can cause sugar crashes or digestive discomfort. Also Read: Effective Strategies to Avoid Negative Marking

Recommended Diet Tips for Students Preparing for Competitive Exams

Dr C Shanmugapriya is here with the last few days' tips, for your diet to increase your concentration during this high yielding time of studies. 

Eat a Balanced Diet

Eating a balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health and focus. Ensure that your meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Never take salt or lemon with salads or fruits because all the important vitamins & minerals are lost. Also, eat only one fruit at a time. 

Eat Less and Stick with Healthier Options 

This is because digestion uses lots & lots of energy. If you can save this energy, then the same can be used for giving more energy for concentration. It's like the energy of digestion is diverted to give you more energy for studies. Fruits & salads are easy to digest. In addition, you feel light.  

Don’t Skip  Breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast can help fuel your brain and improve concentration throughout the day. Aim for a breakfast that includes protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. Some great options include oatmeal with nuts and fruit, whole-grain toast with eggs, or a smoothie with spinach, berries, and yogurt.

Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods are often high in sugar and unhealthy fats, which can lead to brain fog and reduced concentration. Instead, opt for whole foods that are minimally processed. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Do Not Count & Drink Water. Only Drink When Thirsty.

This is a misconception that we should drink lots of water. You can increase your water intake by taking more foods that have more water content ( like fruit, salad). Foods that make you thirsty are bad for you like you always tend to drink with fried foods. These foods dehydrate you. Foods like fruit & salad will not make you thirsty as these themselves fulfill the water demand of the body. 

Avoid Caffeine and Sugary Drinks

While caffeine can provide a temporary boost in concentration, it can also lead to a crash and decreased focus later on. Instead, opt for coconut water, lemon water or soup.

Early to Bed & Early to Rise

Lastly, getting enough sleep before an exam is essential for doing well. To optimize your sleep, aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night, avoid caffeine and other stimulants before bedtime, and create a relaxing sleep environment free from distractions. Also read: How to Revise and Retain Large Amounts of Medical Information for NEET PG We hope you found these tips useful. For more such informative posts, stay tuned to our blog or download the PrepLadder app.