How to Improve Your Studying Skills

Check Out Some "Brain Foods"

• So maybe all of this advice sounds a little too obvious for you, and you want something a bit more exotic. Allow us to offer a few dietary suggestions, also known as "brain foods." They may or may not work for you, but we figured we'd let you know about them in case you're desperate enough to try anything.

  A proper diet is obviously important to give you the energy and focus you need to study. And though it might be tempting to scarf down Extra Value Meals and Ding Dongs all day long, it's probably a much better idea to eat a balanced, healthy diet full of essential vitamins and nutrients. Some of these nutrients have been directly linked with mental focus and even intelligence. For example, a British study found a correlation between dieting and intelligence, concluding that one in four British schoolgirls involved in the study was damaging her IQ by dieting and depriving herself of iron. The study's authors conclude that, because of the frequency of dieting among young women, poor iron status is common among British adolescent girls, and that diet and iron levels play an important role in determining IQ.

  "The Four Gs": ginkgo, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola

  In their book "Herbs for Health and Healing," Kathi Keville and Peter Korn discuss clinical studies that have shown that the "four Gs"--ginkgo, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola--enhance mental abilities, including "concentration, aptitude, behavior, alertness and even intelligence." This may be due to an increase in oxygen flow to the brain when these herbs are taken. While these effects are particularly notable in older people who have begun to show a decline in their mental faculties, many college students especially have relied on the four Gs for memory enhancement.

  The best-known herb for improving memory is ginkgo, and almost all of the "memory enhancing" supplements you come across will contain this herb. As Keville and Korn report in this excerpt from their book, when students are given ginkgo before a study session, "usually at least half the students say they can really tell the difference," and the effect is even more pronounced when it is combined with ginseng or Siberian ginseng.

  Vitamin E

  A number of vitamins are useful in improving the functioning of the body, including the brain. In particular, researchers have linked a lack of Vitamin E with memory loss.

  However, these studies tend to involve older people who are more likely to suffer brain degeneration due to aging. So while you should have sufficient Vitamin E in your diet to protect your mental faculties, it has not been proven that a megadose of Vitamin E is going to help you out on the big exam (although you may find vitamin supplements that appear to make this claim).

  While wheat germ, corn oil and peanut oil all have high levels of Vitamin E, and while meats are also a good source, supplements may be the best way to increase your intake. Make sure you talk to your doctor first, however: Vitamin E thins your blood, so don't take it if you use anticoagulants or are going to have surgery soon.

  Lecithin

  Medical studies have shown that lecithin (which is a "phospholipid"--don't ask), and its most significant component, choline, are beneficial in treating neurological disorders, memory loss and depression. Lecithin may be involved in the transport of lipids and cholesterol (the good kind) from the liver to the blood, and this may also help account for lecithin's role in circulatory-system health and enhanced brain function.

  Natural sources of lecithin like eggs, dairy products and meats are usually high in fat and cholesterol, although lecithin itself contains no cholesterol. Fruits and vegetables are generally very low in lecithin, with the exceptions of avocados (a "brain food," though high in fat) and soybeans (which are good for you, so eat up). Again, we must stress that, although you should have plenty of lecithin in your diet, the relationship between this substance and the brain is not well understood.

  So there you have it. Whether through herbs, organization or plain old commitment, it's possible to break the cycle of substandard studying--no matter how much of an underachieving slacker you currently are.