Nourishing Your BrainAs a typical college student, I suffer from daily stress, lack of sleep, and lack of a proper diet. I've pulled countless all-nighters; my body and brain only feed on coffee, chocolate and pizza, to finish a test or study for an exam. As a result, I may have done better on the assignment or test, but I was being very rude to my body and brain. In terms of nutrition, it's important to think of the brain as just another organ in the body. The food and other substances we put into our bodies influence our behavior, mood, thoughts and emotions. The brain responds very quickly to proper nutrition. However, as a college student who eats dinner in the dining hall every day, I most likely am not getting the nutrients I need to maximize my brain's potential. In this article I'll take you through a day of brain-friendly meals and explain why our brains and bodies need more than coffee, chocolate, and pizza to thrive and survive. Breakfast: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1 glass of orange juice, and yogurt with fresh blueberries Most people eat a high-carb breakfast of cereal, toast, or pancakes after a night's sleep because the body craves those types of food when your blood sugar level is low. However, carbohydrate-rich meals increase the level of the amino acid tryptophan in the brain, which increases serotonin levels. Glucose from digested carbohydrates causes the body to secrete insulin. Insulin tells cells to pull amino acids, except tryptophan, from the bloodstream for storage. Then, tryptophan continues to circulate and is available to neurons that use it to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a calming neurotransmitter that makes you feel relaxed and satisfied. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter for a well-...... middle of paper ......it's raining as it should, it seems like I should give up all the food luxuries, like chocolate and fried foods that I simply adore. So, my next question is: where do these luxury foods fit in? Why do I crave these brain-unfriendly foods and how does the brain react to these cravings? Sources WWW1) Nutrition and the brain: fats for structure, on the Brain.com website http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm? ID=2015&cat_id=372) Nutrition and the brain: fruit and vegetables to protect yourself, on the Brain.com website http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2164&cat_id=373) Nutrition and the brain : carbohydrates for Energy, on the Brain.com website http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2163&cat_id=374) Nutrition and Your Brain: Proteins for Function, on the Brain.com website http:// 216.34.251.136 /about/article.cfm?ID=2016&cat_id=12