Students told: Eat well

KEEPING the brain supplied with plenty energy is vital to proper concentration during exams.

According to the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, the brain uses up to a fifth of the energy we need every day, despite being one of the smallest organs in the body.

It advises eating healthily at exam time, get fresh air and exercise to go into the hall with a clear, focused mind.

A good breakfast is the key to maintaining recall and concentration during the exams, so foods that are high in fibre, giving the body a slow steady release of glucose, are recommended.

If a student is too nervous to eat, drinking a fruit smoothie could help supply essential nutrients and energy.

The gap between breakfast and exam time can be quite long for some students, depending on the distance from home to school, so it may be a good idea to take a snack.

With most students sitting two papers a day, particularly during the first week, a good lunch is also very important. A healthy lunch is better than eating from the local chipper or fast food, as this could leave students feeling full and sluggish for the afternoon.

While many students use coffee or other caffeine drinks during study periods, its benefits for keeping alert may be counteracted by other factors. For example, excess caffeine can upset blood sugar levels, causing loss of concentration.

Caffeine can also cause loss of fluids, and the need to go to the bathroom, which could be unhelpful during an exam. The institute recommends students should drink around 1.5 litres of non-caffeine drinks such as fruit juices, herbal teas and water each day.