Category: Features
20 Foods that will Increase your Studying Effectiveness
Here’s some food for thought: what you eat can affect how well you study. It’s true; a diet rich in essential fatty acids, fruits and vegetables does wonders for your brain power. Don’t worry, pizza counts, as long as you make it whole grain and top it with lots of colorful vegetables and cheese. Check out our list of 20 foods that can help you boost memory and study more effectively.
Fish for good health…
1. Fish: Herring, salmon, tuna, mackerel, halibut, anchovies, sardines and other cold-water fish are your best source of Omega-3 fatty acids, the primary components of the brain, retina and other nerve tissue. Studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids boost energy, enhance learning ability, improve problem-solving skills, and boost memory power and enhance communication between brain cells.
Show some soy power…
2. Soy: Foods made from whole, organic soybeans like soy milk and tofu are rich in choline, lecithin and isoflavones. Choline has been proven to positively impact brain development in addition to slowing memory loss, lecithin helps in preventing deposits of plaque in the brain, and isoflavones help improve cognitive function, category fluency, logical memory, spatial cognition and memory recall.
Reap the fruits…
3. Colorful and citrus fruits: Fill your platter with all the colors of the rainbow and a few more, and you’re guaranteed to improve your brain power. Avocados are especially potent in increasing blood flow to the brain because of their mono-unsaturated fat content. Other beneficial fruits that have a positive impact on your brain and help you recall information quickly include cantaloupes, watermelon, tomatoes, plums, pineapples, oranges, apples, grapes, kiwifruits, peaches and cherries.
Berry, berry good…
4. Berries: Blueberries are known for improving motor skills and learning capacity while strawberries are rich in fisetin, a flavenoid that improves memory recall. Elderberries, blackberries and raspberries have other brain power boosting benefits through their antioxidant content.
Go green…
5. Cruciferous and leafy green vegetables: Your mother had a good reason for forcing you to eat your broccoli. Cabbages, kale, turnips, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, collard greens, cauliflowers, radishes, spinach, mustard green and water cress all help retain memory. Other vegetables that are good in boosting brain power are onions, red peppers, lettuce, carrots, asparagus, okra, mushrooms, broccoli and sprouts.
Chalk it up to chocolate…
6. Chocolate: Chocolate is not only delicious, it’s also beneficial to your brain and can help enhance your mood. Natural stimulants boost the production of endorphins that improve focus and concentration. Milk chocolate has been shown to improve verbal and visual memory and boost impulse control and reaction time. Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols that boost blood supply to the brain and help improve cognitive skills.
Go nuts…
7. Nuts: Rich in Vitamins E and B6, folate, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, these small food items boost your brain power and improve your mood. 
The whole nutty family of cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, Brazil nuts and pecans brings some benefit to your brain.
Sow the seeds of wisdom…
8. Seeds: Flaxseeds are a rich source of memory-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids. Roasted pumpkin seeds contain relaxing tryptophan and dry sunflower seeds offer thiamine, a form of Vitamin B that improves memory and cognitive functions.
Gain from grains…
9. Whole grains: The best brain stimulating foods are like financial news and information, they help the mind grow. Grains like whole wheat, wheat germ and bran that contain a high percentage of folate. Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, barley and popcorn boost your blood flow to the brain. Wholegrain breads and cereals contain Vitamin B6 while wheat germ is rich in memory-improving thiamine.
No pea brains here…
10. Pulses and beans: The brain is fueled by glucose, and as it does not produce its own, the supply has to be kept steady from other sources. Rich in antioxidants, iron and other nutrients, beans help stabilize blood sugar levels. Peas, lentils, green beans, lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, and a variety of legumes help energize the brain.
A sage choice…
11. Sage: Whether used as a herb in your food or taken as a supplement in the form of oils and tablets, this member of the mint family has been known to boost levels of the chemical that helps transmit messages to and from the brain. Sage helps in the break down of the enzyme acetylcholine that is needed for the brain to function properly.
Currying brain favor…
12. Curry: This spicy Eastern delicacy is good for your brain because of a key ingredient, turmeric. The chemical curcumin which is abundant in turmeric helps remove plaque from the brain.
Brewing brain cells…
13. Tea: This wonder beverage, when freshly brewed, has been proven to 
improve memory and focus as well as combat mental fatigue. Green tea is your best bet to good relax mentally and keep your wits sharpened because of the catechines it contains. Black tea, while not as potent as green tea, also works well as a brain enhancer.
Egg those memory functions on…
14. Eggs: A rich source of Vitamin B and lecithin, eggs are good providers of EFAs (essential fatty acids) to the brain. The yolk is especially rich in choline, a basic building block of brain cells that helps improve memory.
Milk the goodness…
15. Calcium-rich foods: Yogurt, cheese, milk and other foods rich in calcium help in improving the function of nerves. Studies have proved that tyrosine, the amino acid in yogurt, is responsible for the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenalin. In short, yogurt helps improve alertness and memory.
Beef up your brain cells…
16. Iron-rich foods: A deficiency in iron has been proven to be the most common cause for poor concentration, decreasing intelligence and slow thinking processes. Iron is essential to supplying the brain with the oxygen it needs to continue normal activity. Red meats and liver are the best sources of dietary iron.
Sweeten the process…
17. Carbohydrate-rich foods: When eaten without protein or fat, carbohydrates provide a soothing effect to the brain. The glucose from the carbs provides the fuel the brain needs to energize you. Avoid refined carbohydrates like white bread, pastries and pasta though, as they cause lethargy. Instead, stick to starches and sugars in the form of grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
Super supplements…
18. Supplemental herbs: Gingko biloba is one well-known supplement that improves mental clarity, alertness and memory. It stimulates blood flow to the brain by dilating blood vessels and increasing the supply of oxygen. It also destroys free radicals that are detrimental to brain cells. Others, though not as popular, are equally effective. Rhodiola rosea is a root that is used in the treatment of poor attention span, tiredness and decreased memory capacity. Herbalgram helps renovate oxygen-deprived cells while Panax ginseng has memory enhancing effects.
Oil those brain cells…
19. Organic and plant oils: Get things moving in your brain with memory-boosting essential fatty acids. These EFAs can be found in oils such as olive, walnut and flaxseed. 
Irrigate your brain…
20. Water: Nearly three fourths of the brain is water, which makes this life-giving liquid an essential component for the smooth functioning of the brain. When dehydration occurs, the brain releases the hormone cortisol which shrinks dendrites, the branches in the brain that store information. This leads to a decrease in memory power. Cortisol also produces adrenaline which affects mental and cognitive functions. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your brain active and quick.
Search Online Degrees
Top 20 Facebook Apps for Entrepreneurs
If you thought Facebook was just another social networking site, if you thought it did not offer anything for the online businessman, here are 20 applications (or apps as they are popularly called) that will make you think again.
1. Simple Stock Quotes: Keeping an eye on the movements of the stock markets? Then this is the perfect app for you – it allows you not only to watch the stocks you are interested in, but to play voyeur as well. Snoop around and see what stocks your friends are interested in, and the stock that’s watched the most by the entire Facebook community.
2. Zoho: With Zoho, you don’t have to leave Facebook to work on your documents, presentations or worksheets. You can either use your Zoho account to transfer your documents to Facebook or create a new user.
3. Box Files: If you have a Box.net account, Files allows access to 1 GB of online storage that you can use to stash any text, audio or video files.
4. Email: A nifty tool that allows you to contact non-Facebook users from within the community portal. Your regular email id shows on the sender’s address space, and replies are threaded just like messages are within the default Facebook messaging application.
5. 30Boxes Calendar: Use this app not just to write to-do lists and inform friends of events that concern them, but also to remind yourself of events – Calendar sends you text messages when events are due. You can also link the calendars between your Facebook profile and the 30Boxes site, making an entry in one reflect in the other.
6. Search: Scour the pages of Google, Amazon and Wikipedia from inside Facebook with the Search app – information at your fingertips.
7. To-Do: Organize your tasks, rank them in order of priority and set reminders for due dates. Delete them once they are complete.
8. Walkie Talkie: Group chats are so much easier with this application – send out invitations to others in your club and start discussions at the click of a button.
9. Think Free Docs: A nice app to upload your documents and share them with others in the community. You also have access to docs that other members upload. It’s easy to set up, though you do have to sign up with Think Free to be able to use it.
10. eBay Auctions: Use your profile to advertise what you’ve put up for sale on eBay, generate publicity for your auctions.
11. BillMonk: Money comes with its share of problems, especially when you’ve lent some of it. With human memory being what it is, BillMonk is the perfect solution to help you keep track of how much you’ve lent to whom. It also plays the role of your conscience, reminding you of how much you’ve borrowed too.
12. SlideShare: A cool app that lets you upload and share your PowerPoint and OpenOffice presentations, and KeyNote or PDF files with your friends. You can also leave comments on others’ presentations.
13. Jobster: Great for looking for work or for people to hire.
14. Ether: If you’ve got a skill to market, this app is a cool way to make some cash on the side. Advertise your talents on your profile using Ether – the app provides a number that people can call to avail your services (calls are forwarded to your personal number), once they pay the rate displayed on your profile.
15. Price Tracker: Shopping on Amazon is cheaper with this neat app – it tracks items you are interested in, and notifies you when prices change – so you can grab it when it’s sufficiently low.
16. Fantasy Stock Exchange: Test your investing skills with this app – test the fantasy stock exchange waters before you take the plunge into the real world.
17. TechCrunch: Your one-stop source for all that’s moving and shaking on the Internet. The most happening companies, products and events that shape the Web are featured on the TechCrunch website – and this app feeds your appetite for news with direct news feeds and headlines from the site.
18. Upcoming: Keep your finger on the pulse of all that’s happening with this application; it provides information on all events that are around the corner.
19. Lending Club: If your credit’s good on Facebook, Lending Club’s all you need to borrow some money from others in the community. Trustworthy third parties take care of the risks and details involved.
20. Developer Directory: A sort of bulletin board where you can market your software skills or look for programmers to join your project.
10 Ways Getting a College Education Makes You More Attractive to the Opposite Sex
Nice clothes, come-hither looks..and a college education? It’s true; getting a college education makes you more attractive to the opposite sex. Want to know why? Read on.
1. You’re committed: Men and women alike are interested in finding a partner that will stick around. Having a degree under your belt shows others that you’re willing to put in the time and effort to get what you want. If you’re committed to your studies, chances are you’ll be committed in your relationship. 
2. You’re smart: Smart equals sophisticated, and if you’ve got a college degree, chances are you’re reasonably intelligent. Not everyone is interested in eye candy alone. Demonstrate your brainpower and be more attractive to the opposite sex.
3. You have stability: When looking for a potential life mate, people look for someone who can ensure a stable future. Degree holders are more likely to have a steady job, which translates to a regular paycheck, insurance, and most of all, reliability.
4. You earn more: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, you’ll earn more with a bachelor’s degree than a high school diploma. Let’s face it; money is attractive. Nearly everyone wants to be able to have a rich lifestyle, so if you have the means to provide it, you’ll be more enticing to the opposite sex.
5. You ‘re social: Parties, study groups and lifelong friendships are a part of the college experience. All of this socialization is appealing because it shows you are accepted by others and fun to be around.
6. You’ve got a broader view: College provides more than just a better chance at a job; you become more worldly. Learning how to speak French may not help you at the office, but a well-timed phrase might impress your date. Très bien!
7. You have confidence: Discussions, presentations and writing assignments require you to create and defend your viewpoint. These exercises all force you to build up confidence, which is attractive to everyone. 
8. You can hold a conversation: Your date will enjoy you more if you have something interesting to talk about. With a college degree, you have plentiful knowledge, which allows you to participate in a variety of conversations.
9. You’re independent: College is an experience that requires you to become more self-sufficient. This is attractive to the opposite sex because many people are looking for someone who can take care of themselves.
10. You’re ambitious: Everyone wants to be with a person that strives to make something of their life. Whatever your goal, a college education shows that you’re willing to invest in yourself to be a better person, and that’s attractive to everyone.