5 Health Tips for Better Grades
- DRINK WATER WHEN YOU GET UP & DURING THE DAY!
Our kids (and all of us) need to drink lots of water, especially before school in the morning! The latest research has found that their test scores and academic abilities actually depend on whether or not they’ve been drinking enough water Dehydration (even a very mild case) makes kids listless, lethargic, and irritable — not exactly the best frame of mind for memorizing multiplication tables.
Imagine the long-term effect of cell dehydration on young brains and their intellectual ability.
Tip: Add berries or orange, lemon or lime slices to water to add extra taste
- EAT A BRAIN-BOOSTING BREAKFAST!
Breakfast is critical for children (and all of us), especially the younger ones. Research has shown that breakfast-eaters do better academically and have fewer behavior problems than breakfast-skippers
Traditionally the children who ARE eating breakfast are consuming high-sugar “breakfast” foods (Cereals, Bars, Pop Tarts, etc). These unhealthy choices set kids up for a mid-morning energy crash — They go from a major blood sugar surge, to a blood sugar crash. Ideal breakfasts offer protein and complex carbs, which are digested more slowly.
Tip: Have a simple breakfast smoothie recipe that is full of brain-boosting omega-3 fats and antioxidants. If you are going to eat cereals choose whole grains and low sugar.
- YOU NEED SLEEP! SLEEP DEPRIVATION MAKES KIDS NOT AS SMART.
Excessively sleepy children in school seem more likely to have problems with learning, attention, hyperactivity, and conduct compared to children who are alert. That, in turn, makes it hard to get good grades.
To help improve sleep habits, help preschoolers get 11-12 hours of sleep a night and make sure teens get 9 to 10 hours of sleep.
Tip: Do NOT schedule activities around bedtime and keep computers, phones, tablets and TVs out of your child’s bedroom. Period.
- HAVE AN ANYTIME FOODS DRAWER IN THE REFRIGERATOR OR HAVE A BOWL ON YOUR COUNTER.
Make sure fruits and vegetables are within arms reach at any time. Some great options are brightly coloured fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas, oranges, carrots, beets, salad greens, green and yellow beans, dark leafy greens, and more.
- WANT A’S? SKIP THE FAST FOOD!
A national longitudinal survey by the Department of Education found that children who ate fast food three or more times per week performed lower on standardized tests in reading and math.
