Medical Questions » Mental Health Questions » Question No. 1556
| Question: | My daughter has exams coming up. What helps brain function? |
| Answer: | There are lots of nutrients that can help brainpower and stress reduction in the run-up to exams. Some 20 per cent of the brain' s dry weight is made up of the same kind of fats found in fish oils, which optimize the health of brain cells and the way they fire information to one another. Stress triggers the release of hormones that interfere with the way these fats are processed in the body, so taking supplements can bypass this interference. A recent study in Japan showed that students who took omega-3 fats in fish oils were calmer at exam time than those who took a dummy pill. Another group of nutrients important for helping the body cope with stress are the B vitamins, so your daughter could take a B complex daily, or a high-strength multivitamin. If she' s particularly stressed, especially on the night before exams, give her 300mg of magnesium, which relaxes both mind and muscles. |
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