We’ve all heard of so-called “brain food.”

Brain food should be healthy foods that stimulate your thinking, but I mainly use it as an excuse to eat during finals.  When I started feeling sluggish after downing a bag of Skittles during my most recent study-a-thon, I decided to put down the bag of Sun Chps and look into what really constitutes “brain food.”

Here are the top 4 foods you should be eating to help stimulate your brain power in both the short and long term.

Fatty fish:  Fish high in omega-3 fats, such as salmon, bluefin tuna, and anchovies can help your brain in multiple ways.  A study in Finland determined that frequent fish eaters are less likely to be depressed than those that eat fish less frequently.  Another study found that eating fish or seafood at least once a week can diminish your risk for developing dementia later on.  This in no way means that you should pile your plate sky high with sardines in hope to avoid dementia.  While fatty fish contain high levels of omega-3s, they also contain trace amounts of mercury which can actually cause harm to the body in large amounts. To get just the right level of omega-3s to stimulate that brain, look to eat about 2 to 3 servings of fish per week.

Blueberries: Blueberries, along with other fruits and vegetables, have been shown to decrease the onset of brain degeneration due to Alzheimer’s disease.  Blueberries, due to their high phytochemical content, have also been linked to improved memory status and function.  Although blueberries are one of the best, other fruits and vegetables with high antioxidant contents can be just as effective.  Nosh on other (seasonal!)  fruits and vegetables to get your daily dose. Read More »

Sunday morning, and your mouth tastes like cotton dipped in garbage and coated in tar. You immediately regret opening your eyes, because you’re not ready for sunlight just yet. As you slowly regain consciousness, your first thought is, what happened last night?

You check your phone, and see that you dialed your ex at 1:34, your best friend at 1:52 (which is weird, because you went to the bar together), an unknown number at 2:04, and someone called “Tattoo Joe,” a name that wasn’t in your directory yesterday afternoon, at 4:23. You immediately call your BFF, and ask the question aloud: “What happened last night?”

Blacking out probably dates back to the birth of alcohol, but it has long baffled doctors, psychologists, and college students. Why does that one last drink put you over the edge, and erase hours worth of memories? Why is it pretty much impossible to tell when you’re having a conversation with someone who is currently experiencing a blackout? Britain’s Telegraph recently reported that the reason why people forget the embarrassing things they do when they are drunk has been discovered. Read More »

I’m starting to think that there is some truth to the rule, “You are what you eat.” I think my muffin top would attest to that statement. In general, I stick to a healthy diet (of cupcakes), but when it comes time to crack the books I know that my typical eating habits will affect my scholastic performance. While I usually opt for a bag of M&Ms at the library, I now know that a giant bag of sugar is not the best thing to get me through the hours of cramming.

In contrast, there are foods out there that have been shown to improve memory retention and attention span. Read: The foods I should be eating. I am one who will do anything to pass an exam, even if it means eating my way to better grades. Because what could be better?

Eat? For better grades? Grad school may be for me after all. Read More »

Someone up above must hate me, because Heidi Montag released another terrible song. Perhaps this is what the U.S. Military is using in their latest foray into alternative forms of torture.

Don Imus seems to be back to his old ways. Shocking.

A lot of little children (and some really awesome college students…not me…ok, maybe me) spent their Friday evening at home with the Jonas Brothers.

The perfect breakfast for the morning after a late night summer Beer-B-Q.

To make money, or to make a difference; that is the question for many college grads.

Is your brain gay?

Some guys just can’t quite distinguish between fact and a cartoon from the early 90′s.

[Photo courtesy of the one and only, Perez Hilton.]

There is nothing more visually exciting and brain numbingly frivolous than the classic E! show Vegas episode. When the Girls Next Door go, I can’t wait to see how underdressed Kendra will be. When the Sunset Tan “ladies” go, I make sure to wear orange. So I’ve been really excited for the Vegas episode(s?) since Dina first discussed it in the first show. Every week since then, I have been taunted by promises of Vegas debauchery (at least I hope so) and yet I still have seen no Vegas. That said, I’m beginning to wonder: will this family actually ever get to Vegas?

This week’s episode, unfortunately but expectedly, was lacking in Vegas. It was chock full of boring-ness though. I got the feeling that the producers wanted to spruce up the season, and added some filler episodes before the big climax. This episode was Baby’s Breath to the bouquet of Living Lohan.

Basically, no one wants to go to Vegas with Ali and Dina. Dina tries to coax excitement out of Cody. She ruthlessly wants to uproot her only responsible child from his busy social life and sports schedule to go party in Las Vegas. She tries bribing Cody with Niketown swag. She tells him of all the fun he’ll have. She finally realizes that he is eleven and she has the upper hand. Cody’s going to Vegas whether he likes it or not. Read More »

Not too long ago, I talked about cleaning out your dorm in order to help get your life on track. Hopefully, you took some of that advice and put it to good use.

Whether you did or didn’t (what are you waiting for? Go for it!), the weather is getting cooler and the holiday season is getting ready to make our already busy lives a big ball of stress. Now is the time to do a clean-sweep on your brain. What do I mean by that? You’re in dire need of an attitude overhaul!

The best part: not only will you feel like a new person…you will be. Thanks to Dumb Little Man I’ve read his wonderful advice and made it a little more college-centric. So, let’s take a minute and make a plan to better ourselves!

The first and most important step is to understand that by changing your thoughts, you will shape a more positive life. This sounds scary, but it’s not about brainwashing yourself. It’s about knowing that positivity breeds positivity.

DLM then outlines 9 steps that will aid you in beginning your transformation, but what I find most useful is his number one rule: Make an Appointment With Yourself

It’s important to take a moment out of your busy day to sit with your thoughts. It’s sounds very hippie-dippy…like I’m some kind of Earth Child, but just take my word for it. This time will allow you to relax, think, sort out your thoughts, and daydream about all the possibilities your life can take. Read More »

Fill in the blank: the bigger the ______, the better the sex.

Get your minds out of the gutter, girls.

Apparently, a big, healthy brain is the underground key to a steamy sex life.

In a recent article, Dr. Daniel Amen claims that sex—for the most part—occurs in the brain, specifically the part of the brain considered “the seat of orgasms” which he calls “the B-spot.” The brain, the biggest and most responsive organ in the body, has the power to intensify your sexual pleasure, according to Amen, an O.C.-based clinical psychiatrist

Have we spent all this time trying to satisfy the G-spot when the B-spot is really responsible for great sex? Amen would answer in the affirmative. “To have a great sex life, you have to have a great brain,” Amen told The Columbus Dispatch.

And what exactly are the characteristics of a “great brain?” Well, brain eminence can be achieved via ordinary good health practices: aerobic exercise and a healthy diet. Read More »