Food feeds brain, dietician says
by Ashley Sheffield
reporter

   Food can be a vital part of success, the SE dietetics coordinator told TCC students earlier this month.
   To educate students about eating habits and the effects of what they eat, Samantha Powell presented Be Good to Your Brain! Eating Right Can Improve Your Learning Power.
   “ If you want to do well in class, breakfast is very important,” she said.
   Powell pointed out different areas where eating right could improve student learning. Vitamins C, E and B12 often affect one’s short-term memory. Students can receive these particular vitamins by drinking orange juice and eating citrus fruits.
   However, people do not need an excessive amount of these vitamins because the extra intake will not have the same result, Powell said.
   “ If you have too much B and C, they go down the toilet,” she said. “It is possible to get too much.”
   Proper nutrition also helps with problem solving, Powell said. B12, C, thiamin and folate from green veggies and pork products help the brain. Powell said students could take a multivitamin to help as well.
   “ You don’t have to get the expensive brand,” she said. “Just save the bucks and buy the store brand.”
   Powell told the group that vitamin A and essential fatty acids help one’s vision, a very helpful tool inside the classroom.
   “ A little bit of fat is good,” she said, “but don’t over do it.”
   SE Campus students can take a diet test in the Computer Learning Center to see if they meet their own vitamin requirements.
   Students should not believe that by consuming a certain amount of vitamins, they would automatically do better in class, Powell said.
   “ However, this is a good starting place to help improve your learning power and be good to your brain,” she said.