Food for Thought

There are certain foods that do make you smarter. These foods can generally be cheap as well, so absolutely excellent for university or college students living away from home. It is important when studying to improve short term and long term memory. Five foods that are cheap and good for your mind and body include:

#1 Oats

Yes this is what we give horses, but it is also what we make porridge out of for ourselves. Oats contain glucose that is the only sugar the brain can absorb, it is responsible for your concentration and memory. You can buy Oats relatively cheaply from Woolworth's for $1.19 (AUD).

All you need to make porridge is:

• 1 cup of Oats
• 1 cup of milk
• 3 cups of water
• Pinch of salt

Put it all in a pan and cook until boiled.

#2 Rice

Rice is also a good food containing glucose and reasonably cheap. You can cook it for a dinner meal and mix it with beans, carrots, capsicum and fish. The good thing about rice is that it can be stored for the week in a airtight sealed container in the refrigerator and reheated for the rest of the week. Similar to oats it improves concentration and memory.

#3 Fish

Fish have two essential chemicals that are good for your body overall and your brain function. EPA which reduces blood clotting and decreases the chance of heart attacks and DHA which enhances leaning ability and mental development. Tuna is cheap to pick up at any supermarket, it is ok to get the cheap or homebrand tuna or salmon, especially when you are at college or uni. But you can also pick up relatively cheaply frozen fish. Fish is something that can be made for lunch, dinner or a snack, so a really good all round food.

#4 Eggs

The yolk of an egg contains Choline, which makes up the greatest percentage of the brain. This chemical is responsible for memory prompting. Eggs are also cheap to pick up around supermarkets and are a good all round food. A nice quiche recipe involves:

• 3 medium sized eggs
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 1/2 finely chopped capsicum
• 2 Tbs of butter or margarine
• Splash of milk
• 1 sheet of puff pastry

Heat the oven to 180o C. Butter a baking dish and place the puff pastry in the dish. Combine all other ingredients and in well together. Pour into the dish and place into the oven for 30 minutes or until cooked right through.

#5 Water

Your brain is made up of about 30% water, therefore it is important to stay hydrated. When you get dehydrated you may increase your memory loss and reduce cognition. Water is the cheapest thing you can drink. Most tap water contains fluoride, which is also good for your teeth. Buying water is an expensive way of drinking, if you are at college of university then it is a good idea to buy a bottle and fill it with tap water.