everyone. Even that old lady who took the last seat on the train. I hate you.

Hey guys Julia here for DNews

Do we need breakfast? Your mom always tells you to eat your breakfast, but do you really

need to?

A recent study published in Journal of Public Economics says yes. The researchers found

that schools that provided free breakfast for their students had better test scores

than those that didn’t. The kids performed 25% better in math, and had similar gains

in other areas like reading.

But this news isn’t entirely new. Breakfast is heralded as the most important meal of

the day. And science backs this up. There are loads of studies that show just how important

it is for learning and memory, but it might not have the weight loss benefits you think.

Anyways, is it breakfast that helps give the brain a boost? Or is it the type of food you

eat?

I mean, the brain consumes a lot of energy. Almost 20% of the energy we consume goes to

the brain. Some researchers say that the brain functions best when there’s 25 grams of

glucose circulating through the bloodstream. So really, you should keep that as level as

possible- any spike or dip can leave you feeling off. So maybe eating more frequent smaller

meals throughout the day can help you avoid a “post lunch crash”.

But is there a way to hack your brain with food? Is there such a thing as “brain food?”

I was always told to eat a banana before a test.

Curcumin[CUR-Q-MIN] and Omega 3s seem to be buzzing around the blogsphere of late. And

there may be some truth to that. According to a paper published in the National Review

of Neuroscience, these nutrients lessen cognitive decline in the elderly and improve cognition

in people with brain injuries. You’re typical sources of this stuff are fish, like salmon,

Flax seeds and walnuts.

Curcumin can be found mostly in tumeric, a type of spice. Iron and b vitamins help memory

and brain function in women. While diets high in saturated fats, tend to do the opposite.

Omega threes and other micronutrients seem to be the heavy hitters of brain food. One

study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a cocktail of

omega-3s, iron, zinc, folate and vitamins A, B6, B12 and C, helped kids in Australia

and Indonesia do better on learning and memory tests.

Another study published in the journal Appetite by some of the same researchers found that

foods low on the glycemic index are better for breakfast. The glycemic index rates food

based on how it affects your glucose levels, or levels of sugar. The study found that yes,

kids memory and cognitive function decline throughout the morning, but a low GI breakfast

reduced that decline more than a high GI did. Low GI foods are like fruits and vegetables

or oatmeal. So a good breakfast might be a bowl of oatmeal with a banana rather than

a bowl of cereal.

So yes, a balanced diet, with fish and fruits and veggies seems to be good for the brain.

Eating breakfast might keep you perkier in the morning so you’re more alert to learn

more. And some studies even show that that old wives tale of chewing gum for a test is

true. Chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain, which more does all sorts of good

things.

So before a big test, eat a good breakfast, no not sugary cereals and maybe have a piece

of gum.