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Guest Post: 5 Brain-Amping Foods That Are Like Edible Rocket Fuel

This is a guest post by University of Tampa journalism student Kirby Jay.

Exhaustion is inevitable in college. Between the part-time jobs, late nights outs, participation in clubs and organizations, and the piles of preserved schoolwork that we knock out the night before the due date, (not to mention efforts to run every day) there is no room to store energy.

This forces students to turn to unnatural stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin, even when they are not prescribed to these medications. These illegal drug purchases can lead to addiction, irreparable health damage, and is a total waste of your money.

Many students do not realize that food was created to do the same brain-boosting job! To keep your brain operating at maximum capacity in order to get your work done, stay up late, and remember the important appointment you have scheduled with your advisor the following day, you must consume the best, natural brain food possible. Here are five easily accessible foods on college campuses that will give your brain the boost you need!


Need to remember to meet with your teacher after your morning class tomorrow? Eat berries for breakfast!

They contain fisetin, flavonoid, and antioxidants that not only slow brain decline, but they hold the benefit of reversing it and actually improve your memory. Research shows that they also reduce the effects of age-related conditions such at Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

So stock up your fridge with cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries or stop by the fruit section of the dining hall before class in the morning to save your memory!

Nuts and Seeds

If you are a student with low motivation and have a hard time getting up to work on a project, a few nuts or seeds with save you!

These small foods contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that act as a natural antidepressant by keeping serotonin at the right level. By grabbing a handful of almonds or sprinkling a spoonful of sunflower seeds on your salad, you will make your college experience a better, brighter place.

Whole Grains

Many students tend to eat bland foods with their meals that do not contain any type of nutrients. Whole grains increase cardiovascular health and a rapid blood flow to the brain, giving off the energy you need to get through the rest of the day.

Instead of choosing the white rice in the cafeteria or ordering white bread on your sandwich, reverse it and ask for whole grain!


Yes! Chocolate is good for you! Dark chocolate holds potent antioxidant properties that contain vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and a form a vitamin A. These stimulate endorphins, which help improve your mood and make you more willing to concentrate.

However, this is a food that should be consumed in moderation so it does not contribute to the extra few pounds you may have put on during your time in college. So when you are suffering in a boring class or lecture, just whip out a chunk of dark chocolate to nibble on!


Even though water is not technically a food, it is something no human would be able to focus with out. A human brain is about 90% made up of water.

Many students only think to drink when they are thirsty, but by that time the body is already halfway dehydrated. And many times students try to replenish their thirst by drinking lemonade or soda, which may make you feel less thirsty, but does not make up for the scarceness of your body’s water supply.

The brain needs water to focus, remember, move, and you will prevent all of your headaches by drinking at least eight glasses of it each day. So when you go to the drinking fountain to fill your cup, fill it with water instead of a useless liquid that will give no positive effect to your brain.

Before choosing what to put on your breakfast, lunch, or dinner plate, remember, “You are what you eat.” If you really want to succeed as a healthy, smart college student, make sure to choose foods that will enhance your energy, improve your memory, force you to focus, motivate you, and improve your mood. These are four of the most important years of your life; choose your food wisely!