TOP TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR CHILD PERFORM DURING EXAM TIME
Exams. An innocuous little word but one that conjures up images
of stressed and exhausted children and equally fraught parents. However,
with a little extra attention to a child’s nutritional and physical needs
during this time, parents can ensure their children are properly equipped to
excel.
Quality fuel for the body
An
adequate intake of nutrient-rich, low GI foods will produce a steady release of
energy throughout the day and allow your child to maintain concentration
levels. Poor concentration has been linked to low blood-sugar levels, so
in addition to three balanced meals your child will need to snack regularly on
slow release carbohydrates such as bananas, apples, nuts, popcorn,
avocado, and wholegrain breads and cereals to avoid those mid-morning or mid-afternoon
energy slumps.
“Sugar makes you stupid”
This
is the name of a paper recently released by Dr Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a
professor of neurosurgery at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
and a professor of integrative biology and physiology in the UCLA College of
Letters and Science.
Says
Dr Gomez-Pinilla, "Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how
you think. Eating a diet high in high-fructose corn syrup over the long
term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information.”
High-fructose
corn syrup, a cheap liquid six times sweeter than cane sugar, is commonly added
to processed foods, fizzy drinks and sweets. According to the US
Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes more than 40 pounds of
high-fructose corn syrup each year.
However,
Gomez-Pinilla also found that supplementing with omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) can help limit the damage caused by high-fructose corn syrup. He
says, “DHA is essential for synaptic function — the brain cells' ability to
transmit signals to one another. This is the mechanism that makes
learning and memory possible. Our bodies can't produce enough DHA, so it must
be supplemented through our diet."
"Our
findings suggest that consuming DHA regularly protects the brain against
fructose's harmful effects," said Gomez-Pinilla. "It's like saving
money in the bank. You want to build a reserve for your brain to tap when it
requires extra fuel or to fight off future diseases."
More on Omega-3 – nature’s brain food
Evidence
is mounting on the importance of omega-3 supplementation for optimal brain
development and functioning. While there has been much talk about the
positive impact of omega-3 supplementation on children diagnosed with ADHD,
this vital fatty acid is beneficial for all children, particularly at times
when heightened concentration and focus are required.
Eye
q™ is the only fatty acid formulation that is backed up by published clinical
trials, and the results of numerous controlled trials performed in the UK’s
Durham school district since 2002 have astonished educators and parents alike.
Andrew
Westerman, a former County Durham head teacher and consultant to the Department
for Education and Skills' National Remodelling Team, said: "This trial
looked at how we can improve children's behaviour and learning through the use
of supplementation, and we were stunned by the results, particularly in areas
such as memory and concentration.”
The
results of this trial, carried out at a school in Newton Aycliffe, showed that
two-thirds of the children who supplemented their diets with eye q™ improved
their exam performance.
Increase your child’s water intake
Another
aspect of the successful results in the Newton Aycliffe trial was increased
water consumption. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, dizziness,
poor concentration and reduced
cognitive abilities, and even mild levels of dehydration can have a negative impact on
school performance.
While most
children would sooner reach for a fizzy drink, water is essential for optimal
brain health and function. It maintains the tone of membranes for normal
neurotransmission, and keeps the brain from overheating, which can cause
cognitive decline and even damage.
By the time
a child actually feels thirsty, there may already be a 10% decline in cognitive
ability, so it is essential that children drink water regularly throughout the
day – the recommended water intake for children between 9 and 13 years of age
is at least 2 litres a day.
Ensure
your child gets adequate sleep
The final
aspect of the Newton Aycliffe trial was ensuring that children got adequate
sleep every night. According to the US National Sleep Foundation, to
function optimally children aged between 5 and 12 years need 10 - 11 hours of
sleep a night, and teenagers need between 8½ - 9¼ hours. In polls
conducted in the US, only 15% of children were getting the recommended amount
of sleep.
As you have
probably always suspected, staying up all night doing last minute cramming is
really counter-productive – your child is more likely to forget information if
he is not getting enough sleep. With proper planning, cramming should not
be necessary.
The Sleep
Foundation also recommends that children not be exposed to stimuli like TV’s
and other electronic gadgets for one hour before bedtime, to ensure they fall
asleep quickly and that sleep is uninterrupted.
Take regular breaks from studying
New research has revealed that 90 per cent of parents aren’t sure how long their
children should spend studying. Educational guidelines recommend that
studying is done in 30 to 45 minutes blocks with a ten minute break in between.
If possible, get your child outdoors during those breaks for
a jump on the trampoline, a quick game of soccer, or a bike ride or walk around
the neighbourhood.
About eye q™ chews
eye
q™ chews have been specially formulated for children with “nature identical”
strawberry flavoured chew capsules to minimise fishy smell and taste. They
contain no additives like aspartame, saccharine, or hydrogenated oils.
Like
all other eye q™ variants, the Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils are naturally sourced
and of the highest grade, compliant with stringent EC and WHO regulations with
regard to dioxins, PCBs, heavy metals and other potential pollutants.
eye
q™ chews are available at leading pharmacies in pots of 60 or 180 capsules,
