Nutrition vital for a student’s ‘academic health’

A student’s diet can determine their extent of awareness and health of their minds. Certain parts of the brain like the frontal lobe, hippocampus and basal ganglia are responsible for cognitive functions ( like attention, memory, thinking, learning, emotion and perception). 

To begin with, one of the primary concerns when it comes to building cognitive health in students is overconsumption of processed foods. It is disheartening to see students chugging carbonated beverages or being bribed for a chocolate bar if they do well in an exam. Every time a student is allowed to mindlessly eat processed food, especially sugar, it ends up compromising brain health and is probably responsible for a disease or suffering they may have to endure in the future. It must be understood by all that Sugar is a killer. It disrupts the growth of a child, both physically and mentally and weakens brain cells. It excites the brain, much like psychoactive drugs  and leads to hyperactivity, memory loss, attention deficit disorder, mood swings and then we blame kids for their poor performance in academics.

Lets also talk about MSG (Mono Sodium glutamate ) , for a bit — a common ingredient found in most processed foods to alter the way food tastes and make it more addictive. However the negative effects that processed foods cause can be counteracted if a student is encouraged to consume a balanced diet that includes protein, fat, complex carbohydrates, fibre and quality probiotics.

— A student’s diet should never be fat-free thinking it would make them obese. It is the right kind of fats that matters. Brain is a very fatty organ and moderate quantities of nuts, seeds, ghee, cold pressed, extra virgin coconut oil, olive oils, rice bran oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, mustard oil is highly essential for development of cognitive skills. 

—Complex carbohydrate sources like grain, fruits, sweet potato, beans serve as a first source of fuel to brain in the form of glucose. It is seen that students who miss breakfast have a trouble concentrating in academics, appear irritated, experience brain fog and have low energy levels.  

—Another essential nutrient is Iron and its deficiency can affect attention span , the capability to learn new skills and can also make students feel tired and irritable . Iron is a critical part of haem-containing flavoprotein enzymes in mitochondria that are responsible for production of neurotransmitters like Dopamine.  

Mind For Study

A primary concern while building cognitive health in students is overconsumption of processed foods 
Every time a student is eats processed food, it compromises the brain’s health