The SAT Diet

(PRNewswire) - Starting on a balanced diet right now can contribute to alertness and high performance results on the SAT and other important tests

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An apple a day can help keep the low scores away. Thomson Peterson's, a leader in helping students with all aspects of the transition from high school to college, including test preparation, college search and financial aid, offers tips based on expert research to guide students onto a healthy path to improve test-taking performance.

With the new SAT debuting in March 2005 and the introduction of the essay as part of the new test, being in the best mental condition is imperative. A healthy diet should begin immediately to ensure the greatest impact on SAT scores.

"It is to a student's benefit to keep himself or herself in great mental and physical shape, as a healthy body equals a healthy mind," said Ruth Roth, author of Nutrition and Diet Therapy, published by Thomson Delmar Learning. "However, it is important to note that good nutrition can't begin just the day before the test. It must be an ongoing effort to have the greatest effect."

The following tips from Peterson's Test Lab -- created to study how external factors (i.e. diet, environment, exercise, etc.) can affect a student's performance on the SAT and other high stakes tests -- will provide a good starting point for the SAT diet.

Ongoing Diet Tips:

* Vitamin B6 will help the body release glucose from glycogen and a
consistent blood glucose level is essential to maintain the highest
level of brain function. B6 is widely available in food such as
fortified breakfast cereals, bananas, peanut butter, pork and chicken.

* Drink at least one glass of (skim) milk a day to not only build strong
bones but also to help with muscle function needed to keep your pencil
within the tiny circles on the scoring sheets.

* Folate is needed for the production of red blood cells that carry
oxygen to the brain and prevent mental confusion. Strawberries are an
excellent source of folate.

* Vitamin C has been shown to help the body cope with stressful
situations by contributing to the biosynthesis of amino acids such as
carnitine and the catecholamines which regulate the nervous system.
Orange juice, tomatoes, broccoli and green peppers are all great
sources.

* To help maintain concentration all morning, have a snack, such as
fruit, 3-4 hours after breakfast to prevent blood glucose levels from
dropping.

Night Before and Morning of the test:

* The night before the test, eat a dinner of pasta with red meat sauce,
mixed green salad with two tablespoons salad dressing, bread stick and
for dessert, fresh fruit with sorbet.

* Even though high school students are not old enough to legally drink -
alcohol is a big "NO" when it comes to test-taking. Alcohol will
interfere with sleep, leading to impaired thought processes the
following day. So lay off the beer!

* The morning of the test, eat a balanced breakfast such as granola
cereal, eggs, whole-wheat toast with margarine and jelly, orange juice
and milk. Limit fat to 1-2 servings, since high fat has been shown to
negatively impact alertness.

* Avoid excess caffeine and simple carbohydrates such as candy, sugar,
regular soft drinks, pastries, cake and sugar glazed donuts. These can
play havoc with concentration and alertness.

* Finally, if you feel your blood sugar dropping (hunger, shakes,
sweating and lost concentration) during the test, then eat the piece of
hard candy you keep in your pocket.


"The reality is that no one food or nutrient can supply all your needs, make you smarter and enhance your memory," said Gregg Driben, president of Peterson's Test Lab, a new research lab dedicated to modifying lifestyle factors which can create better test takers. "However, in addition to preparing academically, these diet tips will ensure your body and mind are in top condition, enabling you to do your absolute best on the SAT."

If you are interested in learning more about Peterson's Test Lab's diet tips to help students on the new SAT, and speaking with Gregg Driben and/or Ruth Roth, author of Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 8th edition, published by Thomson Delmar Learning, please contact Gabrielle Zucker at 212-367-6861 or via email at Gabrielle.Zucker@eurorscg.com.