Article At-A-Glance:
- Students are going all out to pass their finals, but it is important to take care of your health as much as possible this season.
- You don’t have to resort to unhealthy energy drinks and junk food to make it through. Energy foods such as blueberries, walnuts, Mate tea, and goji berries can be a great alternative.
- Although many energy supplements are unhealthy, finding a natural option can be helpful to give you focus and a performance boost.
For some people, this is the time of year to wind down and get a vacation. But for others--namely students--the holidays mean something else entirely: crunch time. The finals season is here, and if you’re like most people, you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to get through it. At Procera, we want to help you not only survive finals, but to maintain your health and energy in the process.
Taking Care of Yourself Will Pay Off
It can be tempting sometimes to burn the candle at both ends, staying up all night and slamming energy drinks. But we want to highly advise that you take care of yourself ! Energy drinks are potentially dangerous (click to learn more.) However, there are much healthier options, which we will explore in this article. Also, remember: even when you’re under stress, it’s important to get a full night’s rest. Your recall and critical thinking will be much better when you get enough sleep.
It may be counterintuitive, but taking the time to care for your body during finals week is actually your best strategy to ace those tests. We realize, however, that time is of the essence, and that you don’t have the luxury of being Martha Stewart in the kitchen. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of power-packed snacks to give you energy and focus when it counts. Without further ado, here is a list of 5 powerful energy foods (and drinks).
Yerba Mate
Pronounced Mah-Tay, this drink is universally beloved in South America and gaining ground in the U.S. Part of the reason for this is that the Mate plant contains natural caffeine, roughly equivalent to a cup of coffee. Unlike coffee, however, Mate has a host of other health benefits. It contains antioxidants for example, and it helps increase energy without raising blood pressure or heart rate. Some studies also showed promising brain-boosting properties for Mate, including increased focus, memory and mood. Brewing up some Mate tea in the morning can be a great way to jumpstart your brain, and get you focused for finals. You can find Yerba Mate here.
Goji Berries
Goji berries are another high-energy food that has become increasingly part of the American diet. Popular in yogurts and smoothies, goji berries are high in antioxidants and studies suggest they could boost alertness and mental performance. Some laboratory testing also indicates that goji berries may help strengthen your immune system. Since you’re more susceptible to coming down with something during finals, adding immune-boosting snacks like goji berries could be a great way to help maintain your health.
Blueberries
One of the healthiest energy foods, blueberries are a low-calorie treat that can give you steady energy. Because of its high-fiber content, blueberries help slow digestion and balance your blood sugar, keeping you on an even keel throughout the day. Blueberries also may have brain-boosting properties, which can give you added firepower for finals season. Some evidence suggests that the flavonoids in blueberries may benefit memory as well as overall cognitive performance. (Pro tip!--all blueberries are healthy; but to get the most nutritional benefits, look for fresh, wild blueberries. This variety can have a higher concentration of antioxidants as well as a more intense taste!)
Walnuts
Another high-energy food, walnuts may have multiple health benefits. Not only are they also rich in antioxidants, some studies suggest that walnuts may sharpen focus and brain function. High in protein and healthy fats, walnuts are a great snack between classes and deliver steady energy through the day. Not all nuts are inexpensive; however, walnuts typically are, and you can reap all of their health benefits by eating just a handful!
More Ideas For Energy Foods...
There are many other healthy foods that give you energy, and a simple look around the internet will yield tons of results. If you’re specifically looking for foods that will boost your brain power, here is an article that will give you even more options.
Finally, if you want an added edge to your mental focus and performance, you can try adding a natural energy supplement. At Procera, we make a product called XTF (Extreme Focus). Extreme Focus isn’t your average energy product. The active ingredients in most energy products are sugar and enormous amounts of caffeine. If you’ve ever crashed from an energy drink, you’re probably well aware of that.
Healthy Energy Supplements
The energy supplement market is huge right now, but that doesn’t mean that what’s out there is healthy. In fact, in many cases it’s the opposite. But with that being said, taking an energy supplement can actually be a great way to get you ready for a challenging task.