MONSOON • AUGUST 6-19, 2012
ARIZONA SUMMER WILDCAT • 9
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Four foods to keep students focused in class By Alyssa DeMember ARIZONA SUMMER WILDCAT
School can take a lot out of students, so keeping a sharp and focused mind is more important than ever as the new semester rolls in. As class approaches in the coming weeks, students’ minds will undoubtedly shift from a state of relaxation to that of a constantly processing machine. While a good amount of sleep each night and consistent studying are key ingredients for success in class, a proper diet can make all the difference as well. Here are four brain foods that will keep students focused for the entire week.
Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the best brain foods to consume. They are loaded with antioxidants, which “protect your brain from oxidative stress,” said Steven Pratt, MD, author of “Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life,” in a WebMD article. And it certainly helps that these morsels are like little pieces of fruity candy. For best use, add them to a smoothie combined with a tangier fruit like strawberries or mix them into a salad with dark leafy greens.
Seeds and Nuts
Avocados
Avocados are a diet must. They contain healthy oils and monounsaturated fats, which stimulate blood flow. When more blood flows to the brain, it is able to function in a greater capacity, just like the heart. This fruit also keeps you full and satisfied, and comes with a wide range of uses. For instance, cut a few slices to add to sandwiches with whole grain bread, mash it into guacamole, or eat it plain. When picking out avocados at the grocery store, feel for a slight softness. If the fruit is too firm, it’s not ready to eat and will be difficult to peel. Should you find that you do not use the entire avocado in one sitting, put the rest away in a sealed container along with the pit and use within a few days.
CONFLUENCE FROM PAGE 8
Confluencenter from the beginning because they just had an overall interdisciplinary focus and mission statement and thought their journal’s goal meshed with that. “It’s been a really long process. We just tried to find the best faculty resources and peer resources to put together a great group of people,” said Kleiner. Art history professor Stacie Widdifield was awarded a Collaboration and Innovation Grant in 2011 to fund her project, Art History of Air and Water in Mexico. Widdifield worked with Jeffrey Banister, an assistant professor in the School of Geography and Development and an assistant research social scientist at the UA Southwest Center, with an interdisciplinary group of scholars who
Almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds are all great sources of benefical fats, oils and vitamin E. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, regularly eating foods containing vitamin E could prevent poor memory. So don’t stress too much about all of the material that’s going to be covered on the next exam. Snack on trail mix while you study to keep your brain working, and always look for whole grain choices when eating bread products. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT ALCARAZ / ARIZONA SUMMER WILDCAT
examined the visual cultural of natural resources in Mexico, which include painting, prints, maps, architecture and engineering works. The grant supported Widdifield and her colleagues to conduct a year-long series of focus groups whose participants included colleagues at the UA, colleagues at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and at Oxford University. “We see this project as a visual complement to the UA’s diverse initiatives and units already focused on the environment, history and resources of Mexico,” said Widdifield. She will present a summary of her work this October with a five-day think tank in the School of Art. It is through these types of projects and programs that the center works to share the wealth of creativity and research on campus with others. “We are fostering a true confluence of people and ideas,” said Duran.
KYLE WASSON / ARIZONA SUMMER WILDCAT
The Confluencenter funds a variety of interdisciplinary projects, such as the Arizona Journal for Interdisciplinary Research, and an art history exhibit by professor Stacie Widdifield.