The raising of the technology age made our lives less difficult and more productive. The high-tech gadgets like computer and smart phones also made learning a lot more advance and a tad bit easier.

But regardless of all those microchips, hard drives, mother boards and other memory devices that our gadgets contain, we still need to relay on the most impressive computer circuit – our brain.

More than any other part of our body, our brain needs nutrition in order to function flawlessly.  And instead of turning to artificial memory enhancer, we should go green… and orange… and well violet…

1. The first food on the list is a staple in Filipino breakfast; tomatoes. As simple and as cheap as it is, tomatoes are rich source of Potassium, Vitamin A and B and if cooked it is also an excellent source of lycopene, tomatoes are also full of antioxidants. All of which are essential nutrients for our brain and body to function properly.  
2. The next one is a bit expensive, but considering allthehealth benefits, it is worth the price; Grapes, especially the red ones. Red grapes are loaded with resveratrol – a compound that enhances the memory and lessen the probability of having age related memory deterioration.
3. This one can be against the school rules, but it is surprising that even though it is annoying seeing someone chew like a goat continuously it does give some benefits to their brain; Chewing gum. It is not about nutrition in this case, it is the act of chewing a chewing gum that keeps the brain alert. It also enhances the reaction time and mood of a person.
4. Coffee. The life source of the early birds. It is common knowledge that coffee contains caffeine that keeps us awake and gives us a boost of energy. What we don’t know is that caffeine helps improve our short-term memory and our sense of focus. Making learning a breeze.
5. There is an urban legend that if you a lot of nuts before an exam it will help you get a passing grade. Well, it is not just an urban legend, nuts do help the brains capacity to store information and is also a high source of omega-3 fatty acid that is associated to better non-verbal reasoning andimpeccable memory.
6. Lastly, eggs. Eggs are rich in choline and phosphatidyl serine which are needed by the human body for cell synthesis and nerve signaling. The brain is a bundle of nerves that communicate with each other thus making this compounds vital to a fast and accurate learning.

These are just few of the choices out there. It is really not that hard to keep our brains healthy and functioning. Healthy diet and proper life style is also efficient. But more importantly we should tease our mother computer of a cortex once in a while, never stop challenging your brain capacity. Combine all of those and your brain will be faster than anything Apple can invent.  

By: Medori Laxamana | Teacher III | Lucanin Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan