Energy drinks give a false sense of energy and trick the body into staying awake for longer, and over-consumption of these beverages can have negative health consequences, said a senior Clinical Dietitian.
Zohair Ali Al Arabi, a Senior Clinical Dietitian at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has also emphasised the importance of healthy eating for students preparing for exams.
“It is true that energy drinks will make you feel more alert and energetic, but it’s a false feeling that results in distraction, poor memory, and staying up late.
This will make students sleepy and sluggish at a time when they need their concentration and mental sharpness. Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and stimulants that students do not need, and drinking milk or juice is a much healthier choice than these stimulants,” said Al Arabi.
He said many people are misled by claims that energy drinks increase focus and improve performance. He notes that getting sufficient sleep and eating a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for helping students perform well on their exams. He also stresses the importance of staying hydrated, saying that even mild dehydration can lead to tiredness, headaches, and diminished concentration.
“As the exam season starts, many parents will experience stress even before their children. Parents can help their children maintain healthy habits that will keep them in good shape for their exams by encouraging them to eat a nutritious diet, get sufficient sleep, and get regular exercise,” said Al Arabi.
“Parents play a major role in ensuring their children have access to nutritious foods and should plan the day’s main meals - breakfast, lunch, and supper – as well as one or two snacks. Meals should contain a mix of the six major food groups as each plays an important role.
Carbohydrates provide energy; milk, cheese, and other dairy products, and their alternatives provide calcium; protein is an important building block for the bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood; and fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and minerals that are essential for focus and endurance.
Meal planning for students is important as neglecting meals may result in poor concentration and memory because the brain cannot work properly on an empty stomach,” added Al Arabi.
Eating a varied, well-balanced diet means eating a variety of foods from each of the six food groups daily, in the recommended amounts. It is also important to choose a variety of foods from within each food group.
Al Arabi recommends eating breakfast between 6am and 8am and said a meal containing milk, bread, cheese or Labneh, healthy fat like olive oil, and vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, is a great choice.
He recommends a snack between breakfast and lunch, suggesting a piece of fruit, and said rice, meat, and cooked vegetables or salad is a great choice for lunch.
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