What you eat can affect your state of mind and mood which makes eating the right thing extremely important come that all-important exam time. Exams can breed emotions of stress and anxiety which can be curbed by some strategic ingredients.
Explain to them that you want to help them do well at school and will be rustling up some information-absorbing friendly meals. This will not only educate them about how important it is to eat well through stressful times, but it will also be appreciated that you are making an effort to help. Memory lane Brain cells need a B vitamin called choline to function effectively. Once in the brain, choline transforms in to a neurotransmitter which is needed to transport information from one cell to the next. Choline also helps maintain the nerve cells. B-complex vitamins are essential for memory maintenance and cellular energy. The B-complex vitamins are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid and biotin and B9. Eat this:Stock up on cabbage, cauliflower, lentils, soya products and eggs as these are all rich in Choline. B - complex vitamins can be found in chicken, avocado, oatmeal, potatoes soya beans and fish. Try dishing out a lentil soup for starters followed by a hearty chicken and avocado salad for dinner. Alternatively a cod steak and baked potato goes down a treat. For a perfect breakfast serve up some oatmeal made with soya milk topped with sliced banana. Teen angst
The adrenal gland is used to control the adverse effects that stress can have on the body. To maintain a healthy adrenal gland vitamins C, magnesium and B5 are key. Stress can also have damaging effects on the immune system so if your child is overly-anxious about their exams they could be at risk of falling ill or suffering from other stress side effects such as coldsores and ulcers. Eat this: Foods rich in magnesium include cod and mackerel, soya beans and leafy green vegetables. Wholegrain, dairy products and leafy green veg are also good sources of vitamins B5. As vitamin C is the only vitamin that cannot be stored by the body, a regular intake throughout the day is vital. Citrus fruits, potatoes, berries and peppers are good sources of this all-important vitamin.
