Vitamins and minerals:
According to Michael Van Straten, the majority of children aged between 10 and 16 are seriously deficient in some of the vital nutrients they need, especially vitamins A, B6, zinc and calcium. But it's the lack of iron and folic acid in their diets that really affects their mental powers, as these are needed to make sure there is sufficient oxygen in their blood.

Don't worry, though. It's really easy to avoid these problems and guarantee that the brain has everything it needs to cope with the extra demands of exam time. Just include a regular supply of these super brain foods:

• Oily fish for essential fatty acids, for example sardines, salmon, tuna, pilchards, herrings or mackerel.
• Prawns, shrimps and shellfish for zinc
• All red meat and poultry for protein, iron and B vitamins
• Wholegrain cereals for B vitamins and slow release energy
• Nuts and seeds (for example, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, brazil nuts, walnuts and peanuts) for essential oils, zinc and selenium
• Fresh fruit, salads and green vegetables for vitamins C, A and folic acid
• Liver for vitamin A, iron and B12 (not to be taken by pregnant women)
• Rosemary, sage, basil and ginger all enhance brain function

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