Boost Your Grades the Natural Way

Some natural supplements are known to improve concentration and cognitive function, helping you get to the top of your class.

Most students make it through the day-to-day grind with relative ease. However, as exam time looms on the horizon, an event that for some parallels the Olympics in proportion, stress, and anxiety may rear their ugly heads.

Perhaps you’re afraid your lack of sleep will catch up with you, or that the fuzziness in your head from too much cramming will make it impossible to concentrate. While some athletes illegally enhance their performance, you don’t have to resort to cheating to boost your grades. A few brain-empowering vitamin supplements can make a world of difference, cognitively speaking, especially during the intellectual endurance event known as exams.

Seven Supplements That Can Help Boost Your Grades

1) Ginkgo Biloba

This supplement is extracted from the leaves of the Ginkgo tree and improves oxygen and blood flow to the brain, resulting in sharper mental faculties and better memory function.

2) Omega-3

The importance of essential fatty acids has recently become widely known. Omega-3 contains DHA or docosahexaenoic acid which forms an integral component of cell membranes in the brain and nervous system. It helps prevent cognitive decline and may even be useful in treating ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is usually sourced from salmon and other fish oils.

3) Lecithin

Usually derived from soybeans, this naturally occurring fatty substance provides choline, or phosphatidylcholine, an essential B Vitamin nutrient for cell membranes in the body. It is also an important contributor to a chemical in the brain known as acetylcholine, which plays a vital role in memory.

4) Melatonin

Getting your zzz’s is perhaps the most important aid in brain function. However, a large number of people suffer from sleep disturbances or deprivation, inhibiting the body’s restorative processes. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that the brain releases to regulate cycles of waking and sleeping.

According to a study conducted by Kendall-Reed, director of Toronto’s Urban Wellness Clinic, the use of a melatonin supplement greatly improved the rejuvenation of the participants. Kendall-Reed remarks, “The overall improvement in each participant’s ability to fall asleep, the quality of their sleep, and their sense of mood, energy, and mental clarity was remarkable.”

5) Caffeine 

A no-brainer on this list, caffeine – whether from coffee or tea – can help you get through the most rigorous study sessions by increasing your alertness, improving concentration levels, and enhancing your mood. However, always be mindful of your caffeine and don’t ever overdo it, lest you want to suffer from caffeine jitters. 

6) Antioxidants 

Found in a host of foods, the best (and most delicious) way that you can add these to your brain power-boosting supplements is in the form of blueberries. Blueberries can help reduce stress and inflammation as well as improve communication between your different brain cells. They can also improve your memory as well as certain cognitive processes.

7) Vitamin K

A fat-soluble vitamin, this nutrient is crucial for the formation of sphingolipids, which is a type of fat that is found abundantly in brain cells. Studies show that if you meet your daily vitamin K requirements, you not only improve your memory but also your cognitive status. You can find vitamin K in vegetables like broccoli. 

If you want to know what to snack on exactly, perhaps this can help. With that said, now swallow hard and walk into the classroom with all the confidence of an Olympic medalist. After all, by using a few natural supplements, you’ve given yourself an honest advantage and a legitimate boost to your brain power and your grades.