Back to school is a good time to make healthy changes

For full time students, young or old, a new year begins in September as much as in January. Fall is the time for changing clothes, changing schedules and even changing habits — a good time to initiate new healthy routines.

An informal survey by Webber Naturals, a leading Canadian manufacturer of natural health supplements, revealed that people make resolutions in the Fall just as they do at New Years. Common health-related decisions made by students are to exercise more, eat less junk food and more fruits and vegetables, take vitamins, and get more sleep. For young children, parents may make these "resolutions" for them.

Because learning ability is directly affected by health and nutrition, students can improve grades with the help of exercise, sufficient sleep and by increasing their intake of specific brain-supportive nutrients. Omega-3 essential fatty acids, from fish, fish oil supplements, flaxseed, or chia, help improve vision and attention, as well as supporting heart and brain health. There are even naturally flavoured omega-3 kids liquid supplements for those who don't like taking pills. Fish has always been known as "brain food", but it you don't like fish that much you can get the brain support with fish oil supplements.

Antioxidants are nutritional compounds that fight the destructive effects of unstable molecules called free radicals. Antioxidants support circulation, as well as heart and brain health. They are found in brightly coloured fruits and vegetables or in concentrated extracts. For example, blueberries have been shown to improve memory and alertness. Vitamin E and vitamin C are two of the best-known antioxidant nutrients. If students don't eat enough bright green, red or purple foods they can use antioxidant concentrates to increase their brainpower.

Smart students feed their brains!