Best Foods for Memorization During Finals Cram Sessions

By Elana Goodwin on April 26, 2017

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Studying for finals is hard work and time-consuming — and like most college students are wont to do while cramming, you will probably want to eat a snack while you’re prepping for your exams.

However, rather than reaching for easy-to-munch on junk food, opt for one of these foods instead, as they’ll actually help you with memorization and give your body healthy proteins, nutrients, vitamins, and more. Here are some of the best foods to eat while studying for your finals.

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Veggies. There is a reason your parents used to tell you to eat your veggies as a kid. Vegetables are chock-full of healthy nutrients and antioxidants, some of which may actually help you focus and improve your memory. Tomatoes, celery, broccoli, carrots, spinach, and leafy greens are all foods you should be eating during finals week — and, many of these veggies are easy to cut up and eat as a snack, making them convenient to munch on.

According to a 2015 review, broccoli is high in compounds called glucosinolates, which can slow the breakdown of the acetylcholine transmitter and help the central nervous system perform well, keeping our memories and minds astute. Broccoli is also an impressive source of vitamin K, which boosts cognitive function. Other veggies that provide you with a good dose of vitamin K include spinach and leafy greens.

Additionally, tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which actually helps prevent dementia and can also aid in enhancing your mood; and celery has lots of antioxidants and polysaccharides, which are good for your overall body and brain health.

Fruits. Fruits are a great finals snack to indulge in. Choose from foods like berries, apples, bananas, avocados, oranges, and raisins to eat while you study. Avocados have both vitamin K and folate, which can help prevent blood clots in your brain, in addition to helping enhance cognitive function, particularly when it comes to memory retention and focus.

Oranges have lots of vitamin C, which according to a 2003 German study can actually help decrease your stress levels. Since finals are super stressful, eating plenty of oranges certainly can’t hurt in helping you manage your anxiety and combat your stress over your exams.

Berries, especially blackberries, blueberries, and cherries, are a great source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids that may boost memory function. Blueberries in particular are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, with high levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber, as well as gallic acid, which help protect our brains from stress and degeneration. Pretty much the perfect finals studying food, then!

Fish. Salmon and tuna are oily fish that have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically, Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, or EPA and DHA) which help to manage stress and make the “happy” brain chemical serotonin. Making yourself a nice fish dinner while studying for finals may help you tackle studying in a less stressed and more positive way.

Seeds & Nuts. Consider munching on walnuts or almonds as your finals studying snack. A 2015 study done by researchers at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine found that eating a few walnuts each day may help improve memory, concentration, and the speed at which your brain processes information.

Nuts also are great sources of vitamin E, have high levels of antioxidants, and are full of other healthful vitamins and minerals, which can help keep your brain sharp. In addition, seeds, like pumpkin seeds, contain zinc, which help boost your memory and thinking skills, and magnesium, which can help decrease your stress levels.

Make yourself a bowl of trail mix, consisting of raisins, walnuts, almonds, dark chocolate chips, and various seeds to snack on while you study and prepare for exams.

Chocolate. Don’t go crazy busting out the M&Ms or fun-sized bars just yet. Chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, is full of flavonols, which boast antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Those flavanols assist in increasing blood vessel function, which then enhance cognitive function and memory, and helps lower blood pressure. Of course, chocolate also boosts your mood — so while you may not feel happy about having to cram for finals, you’ll at least be happier since you’re eating chocolate while you do it!

Obviously, just eating these foods as study snacks is not the only thing that will help with your memory retention and concentration. Taking the time to exercise, drinking water (and not just coffee and energy drinks), minimizing distractions, and getting plenty of sleep each night before your tests will also help you feel ready to take on your finals and do well on them.

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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