The juice and pulp of açaí fruits (Euterpe oleracea) are used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. Açaí has become popular in southern Brazil where it is consumed cold as açaí na tigela (“açaí in the bowl”), mostly mixed with granola. (GERVÁSIO BAPTISTA/Agência Brasil)

With finals starting tomorrow, the stress level increases at an alarming rate along with the hours spent in Fondren over the next week.

Eating healthy is probably the last thing on students’ minds, but it can be one of the most important aspects of their final preparations.

Some foods can help to stimulate brain activity, which will not only help students stay healthy during finals but also be at their best.

Many studies show that there are particular foods to eat that are considered “brain foods,” which students can eat over the next week and a half to ensure that they are at their best when taking finals.

The first is wild salmon. Wild Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which help to build brain tissue and will help increase brain power.

Salmon also has niacin, which can help keep Alzheimer’s disease and slow the rate of cognitive decline, according to Yahoo Health.

Mackerel can also be substituted and has many of the same benefits as the wild salmon.

However, not all fats can help stimulate brain activity saturated fats can actually inhibit brain activity by blocking nutrient and blood flow to the brain.

Blueberries and Acai berries are known to help with long-term memory.

They carry antioxidants that can improve cognitive thinking and can protect the brain from free-radical damage and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Wild blueberries have the most antioxidants, so try getting some from a farmer’s market or picking them off the vine.

Acai berries are loaded with antioxidants and carry the same benefits as blueberries. Acai berries taste great in smoothies or in the popular, healthy snack called an “Acai bowl.”

Acai Bowl Recipe

The Acai bowl is a refreshing, healthy snack that is full of antioxidants and is perfect for a break during finals studying. It is made using Acai berries, which are grown in Brazil.

Most use frozen Acai smoothie packs that are frozen Acai pulp. Other common ingredients in the snack are bananas and other fruits like Goji berries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Many add nuts or granola to the Acai bowl.

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen pack of Acai
• 1 banana
• 1/4-cup soymilk
• Frozen blueberries
• Granola
• Honey

1. Blend Acai, blueberries, half of banana and soy milk

2. Pour in Bowl

3. Top with granola, sliced banana and strawberries and drizzle honey on top

Before or after a final, when the stress levels are high, students should have some low-fat yogurt (not frozen, which is high in sugar) or mixed nuts, like almonds, macadamia nuts, or Brazil nuts.

Eating them raw will give the most health benefits because they retain all of the nutrients.

“Scientists in Slovakia gave people three grams each of two amino acids—lysine and arginine—or a placebo, and asked them to deliver a speech. Blood measurements of stress hormones revealed that the amino acid-fortified guys were half as anxious during and after the speech as those who took the placebo,” Yahoo Health said.

Yogurt carries large amounts of lysine, and nuts are loaded with arginine.

They both have some protein so when choosing a pretest snack, either one would be perfect to keep students full throughout the day.

When students need to concentrate, peppermint tea is the perfect option going into take a test or doing work late at night.

“The scent of peppermint helps you focus and boosts performance, according to Yahoo Health.

Peppermint tea would be the perfect morning drink that will not cause the crash, like the effects from drinking coffee. Other studies have found that peppermint makes drivers more alert and less anxious.

Other snacks that provide health benefits are fruits and healthy spreads.

Apple slices spread with peanut butter are the perfect snack around lunchtime.

“The carb-rich fruit will give serotonin a boost, which helps calm raggedy nerves so it’s easier to focus. The peanut butter is filled with healthy fats,” according to the brain food success blog.

Almond butter is also a good alternative for those who are allergic to peanuts.

Grapes are perfect when students want a sweet snack. As a high sugar fruit, grapes have serotonin also and they are high in fiber, which slows down sugar absorption and the fiber can soothe stress.

Frozen grapes are the perfect study snacks for a hot day.

As well as eating healthy, it is important for students to get adequate sleep (about eight hours) and exercise on a regular basis.

Without proper sleep, studies have found it is harder to eat healthy and that students are more prone to picking up illnesses.

Students should try to get 30 minutes of cardiovascular (running or biking) exercise at least three to five times per week.

This is especially important when students are in finals and have high levels of stress.

The Acai bowl recipe is from hubpages.com.