With the seemingly never-ending loads of homework regularly assigned to each student, plus the unfortunate reality that exams are approaching, it’s important that students are taking good care of themselves. Usually that means drinking water, getting enough sleep, and staying clean; however it’s also essential that students are eating foods that will benefit not only their bodies, but also their minds. When asked about what foods make the best brain fuel, students gave a variety of responses ranging from vegetables to carbs. Many of the students were on the right track, but their guesses weren’t completely accurate.

“Brain foods” are foods that are believed to help the brain both intellectually and developmentally. Stress causes inflammation in the brain and many brain foods help lower that inflammation. Although many people think that the idea of brain foods is a hoax, there is a lot of research behind their legitimacy.

Thousands of research studies and websites exist with lists of brain foods and what the benefits they have. The majority of the articles bring up the same couple foods. A study by Harvard found that women who ate blueberries and strawberries at least once a week had a brain age up to 2 ½  years younger. Other than eating them plain, one of the easiest ways to eat blueberries is in a smoothie.

Avocados have become a very trendy food this year, and even though the thousands of lifestyle gurus on Instagram and Youtube might be the ones influencing viewers to eat them, the fruit’s health benefits will convince people to continue. The vitamin K and folate in avocados help prevent blood clots and improve cognitive function. Naturally, the rising popularity of avocados has inspired a growth in recipes that include them. One of the most surprising recipes is avocado brownies, made by simply swapping the butter in any brownie recipe for avocado. While this might seem strange, the switch cuts down calorie and saturated fat counts by more than half. Other easy ways to eat this brain food is on toast, or in guacamole.

Whether in smoothies or brownies, there are plenty of ways to incorporate brain foods. Just like studying and getting sufficient sleep, eating the proper foods–like avocados and blueberries–can improve cognitive function, and help students perform their best during the academic year.