Right diet, rest, key to high marks: Experts

NEW DELHI - Students stressed about upcoming exams should focus on having a protein-rich diet and taking regular breaks between study sessions to score well, experts said here Saturday.

The first leg of Horlicks Mission Exams 2011 was launched here to help students and parents cope with the upcoming examination season.

A student workshop was followed by a panel discussion which saw participation from parents, teachers and students from various city schools as well as prominent city counsellors, psychiatrists and dieticians.

The brand is reaching out to more than 100 schools in Delhi through school contact programmes and workshops to help students manage examination stress and perform better. The programme reaches out to 21 cities in the country including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, an official of Glaxo SmithKline said.

Children should take enough proteins when they are preparing for exams. Milk, eggs, lentils and other protein-rich foods should be taken adequately as they help in concentrating better while white bread, biscuits and wafers should be avoided, Max Healthcare’s regional head (dietetics) Ritika Samaddar said.

The interactive session advised parents and students on issues like time management, diet and relaxation, among others.

According to the experts, children should take regular breaks between study sessions. After every 20 to 30 minutes of studying, a five minute break is essential as studies have shown that the concentration levels drop steeply after 20 minutes of studying, they said.

We understand that exam time may be a challenging time for children and a lot of mentoring is required during this time. So, we empower the students with exam tips, nutrition advice and confidence building techniques, Glaxo SmithKline’s general manager (marketing) Puneet Das said.