Here's some food for thought. What you eat can actually make a difference in how smart you are. Would you believe that by eating certain foods you can score better in school? Read on to find out about food and your brain.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you had something with protein, you probably have a better chance of staying alert and focused today. If you're wondering exactly how much protein you need, I can't help you on that. You see, how much protein you need depends on your age, weight, and activity levels.

Carbohydrates (like bread, cereals, and potatoes) slow down your brain's alertness. In some studies, carbohydrates were connected with aggressive and mean behavior. Low carbohydrate diets seem to make those behaviors go away over time. Researchers have proved that sugar, especially when it's mixed with other carbohydrates, affects the ability to focus (and many other things) in a bad way. However, sugar mixed with protein can have a very good affect on learning.

The brain seems to work best when the things you eat include protein, carbohydrates with protein, selenium (seafood, nuts), boron (broccoli, apples, peaches, grapes), folic acid (green leafy vegetables, beef), zinc (fish, grains), and vitamin B. All of these vitamins and nutrients work better when gotten from a natural source which means when gotten from eating fresh foods.

Here are a few ideas for using nutrition to build brain power:

• Have your teachers or parents teach you about nutrition. They should help you recognize healthy and unhealthy foods when you see them. Ask them to teach you about the Food Guide Pyramid.
• Eat snacks that have low or no carbohydrates. Try protein filled snacks like cheese, yogurt, and nuts. You can also eat fruits.
• Don't skip breakfast! Try eating protein rich foods (meats, peanut butter, and cheese) for breakfast.
• Set an example for younger kids. Eat healthy foods. Trust me, they'll do what they see you do.

Now that you've read this page, are you going to try to eat smart? I sure hope so. Are you going to improve your learning by doing this? If you do it right, you will.
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