Vitamins Collegiettes Need

Vitamins For Better Grades!?
 
Describing the typical college diet in a few words would mean using adjectives like greasy, carb-loaded and pretty much unhealthy. If your typical veggie intake is piece of broccoli chicken pizza from Dominoes then keep reading. If you’re like most people who skip over the salad bar at Stillings and head straight for the hot dogs don’t stop here. Because most of us are making less than perfect dietary choices, our vitamin count is suffering and this is the time in our lives where vitamin and mineral intake is most important! Read on to figure out what vitamins you could be getting more of and what an adequate intake can do for you!
 
1. Vitamin C
You’ve probably heard of this immunity booster once or twice before but did you know that it can also boost alertness and help with concentration? Missing this vitamin can mean that you’re more prone to get sick especially if you’re living in a dorm where germs flourish! Lacking vitamin C can also lead to a serious disease known as scurvy. More than just a term heard in popular pirate movies, scurvy has side effects like anemia, gingivitis and purple spots all over your skin called skin hemorages! Ew! Besides the obvious orange juice you can get more vitamin C from broccoli and grapefruit, strawberries, peppers and tomatoes! Keeping your diet rich in vitamin C will help prevent you from getting sick giving you pretty much no excuse not to attend your 9am bio lecture.

 
2. Iron
Feeling tired all the time? Have less energy than a dead set of batteries? You might be iron deficient! Since the leading symptom of deficiency is fatigue and iron is one of the most common minerals college aged women aren’t getting enough it’s quite possible that the answer to your energy problem isn’t another cup of coffee or a red bull. Enjoy some iron rich foods like turkey in your sandwich, eggs for breakfast or some dark leafy greens in your salad! Keep your iron levels up and maybe you’ll be able to skip that 3 o’clock nap and spend a little more time in the Dimond!

 
3. B Vitamins
Known as folic acid or B9, this vitamin is an Anatomy student’s BFF. B vitamins aid in memory function and help regulate sleep and appetite. Pretty much everything you need for a late night study session minus the flash cards. Get your vitamin B from strawberries, broccoli, whole wheat bread, asparagus and grapefruit!
 

4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is the sun vitamin! It’s extremely important in the development of strong bones and has been studied as an immune system booster as well as an aid in preventing depression. We live in New England, and although being outside in the sun during spring summer and fall requires little to no effort at all, surviving through a New England winter usually means less time outside than the average house cat, leading to a serious decrease in our vitamin D levels. This is absolutely not giving you an excuse to purchase a four month unlimited pass to the local tanning salon, but it does present a good argument for that winter vacation to Cancun you’re parents refuse to give in to. If there’s a snowballs chance in hell that you’ll be jet-setting to a sunny island any time soon then try adding a little milk to your diet. Eggs and fish are also good sources of this bone builder! Like vitamin C, Vitamin D is good for your immune system and also helps your bones and cells grow and regenerate. Healthy cells = healthy people and healthy people don’t miss their classes!

 
5. Vitamin A
Vitamin is needed to if you want to keep passing your vision test and is crucial for pretty skin! Even better this little guy has been dubbed the “learning vitamin” because it helps the brain absorb information! Since they’re not serving liver in the dining hall these days you should plan on getting your vitamin A by eating orange (excluding anything in the cheese curl or gold fish family)! Sweet potatoes, carrots and cantaloupe are all good choices for keeping your skin glowing and brain growing! Good eyesight is important for reading class notes if you’re back row kinda gal and absorbing information during class is key to get that A!

 
Now that you’ve been educated on the vitamins that will keep you’re body healthy and your brain happy with consumption on a daily basis, here’s a list of study snacks that consuming could give you an edge on your next presentation or exam!
 
Smart Food- Chocolate
I will use any excuse to eat chocolate but reading that it could actually help me pass my chemistry exam has been my favorite one yet! Apparently a few pieces of chocolaty bliss is actually good for your brain! Pick the dark chocolate M&M’s since they have more antioxidants and less calories or make chocolate covered pretzels in your microwave with your favorite brand of chocolate for a sweet and salty treat.
 
Smart Food- Blueberries
These yummy little babies are packed with enough antioxidants to keep your whole body healthy! With that being the case, i’m sure a few will find their way to your brain! There’s endless ways to eat blueberries- in a smoothie in a fruit salad or even dipped in chocolate!
 
Smart Food- Nuts
Nuts are made up of minerals and amino acids that your brain loves! Amino acids are especially important to keep your brain functioning and eating a handful of nuts before taking an IQ has been studied to raise IQ scores by 3-4 points!