Diet and Fitness are Just as Important as Studying
The Gym goes Unnoticed
In the average college student's life, the main priority is school. Whether that's attending office hours, studying with friends, or just catching up on some homework, it is the main activity in their day. Going to the gym is usually on most people's radar, but it is the first thing to go when time gets tight. Perhaps the students are thinking that they can't go to the gym because that would waste precious study time.
A recent study from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Pennsylvania State University showed that being physically active is more important to your academics than you might think. The study showed that students who remained physically active a few times a week were maintaining a higher GPA than those who weren't. Their GPA's were an entire letter grade higher on average, about 0.34 points higher.
Does Diet have an Effect?
The study done by UN-L and PSU showed that diet, specifically iron levels, also contributed to this result. The majority of students maintaining their fitness were also eating more iron-rich foods. A good iron count is not as potent as being active, but having a low iron count can cause fatigue and lower your academic performance.
What Can You Do?
Keeping active is easier than you might think. Medical and fitness professionals say that maintaining 150 minutes a week is sufficient to keep your mental state at its peak. Even activities such as brisk walking or cycling will do the trick. Since Pitt is a large campus, most students probably walk at least twenty minutes a day, so just having an brisk afternoon walk after classes will be beneficial.
As for increasing iron intake, that is also doable. Good sources of iron are plentiful around campus, even without cooking for yourself. Red meat, pork, and poultry are great sources of iron, and there are countless restaurants that have these. True Burger, The Roost, and The Eatery all have plenty of meat, and are less than a 5 minute walk from Cathy. If you prefer not to eat meat, dark leafy greens are also a great source of iron. CrEATe, Pom and Honey, or The Burrito Bowl all have meat-free meal options that are high in protein.
It's That Easy
Knowing these seemingly small tips might help this semester be your best one yet. While it might not seem like it could help, having a healthy body will prove beneficial to your academics. I challenge you to try these things for the next week or two, and see how much it changes your mental capabilities!
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8VAjoBiGkGSn5wFWBsBSSL91O-clWmjIRsw&usqp=CAU
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034
https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/grilled-chicken-cobb-salad-with-honey-dijon-paleo/
Hi, Ian. I found your post to be very useful and motivating! I like many other college students find it hard to make time during a busy day to go to the gym. I tend to put homework and study time above eating healthy and working out. However, after reading your post I feel as motivated as ever! I think over the next few weeks I may try to prioritize physical activity and eating healthy to see if it positively influences my grades and overall health. Thank you for your motivating suggestions.
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah! I'm glad to hear that my post is that motivating to you! It is definitely so important to keep active and healthy, even during a busy college schedule. I'm sure that you will see a benefit from doing that for the next few weeks. Thank you for the feedback and taking the time to read my blog!
DeleteHi, Ian! Your post is very thought-provoking! It is so difficult to balance class, homework, studying, and fitness. I attend cycle classes throughout the week, but sometimes I have to cancel if I have too much work. This is really motivating and I love your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteHi Paige! It definitely is so hard to balance all the classes and homework of college while also finding time for fitness and health. Cycling classes sound like an amazing way to do that! I'm happy to hear that my post motivated you! Thank you for the feedback and taking the time to read my blog!
DeleteDear Ian,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. As a student who wanted to pursue college athletics, I also found it hard to balance sports with studying. I like that you added more than one student study. This was very helpful towards your case. I also appreciate how you added alternatives to consuming iron. I never knew that iron was the main source contributing to higher GPAS. My eating habits are not the best since I am very picky, so I will be sure to check out True Burger. Nice job!
Hi PWash, I was just as surprised as you were when I learned about how influential iron is to the brain. It's definitely hard to keep a balanced diet during college, when you can just find quick food that is easy. I'm glad you enjoyed the blog! Thanks for reading.
DeleteHi Ian! Your post is really helpful to me. I used to work out in the gym on a daily basis during high school, but after I attended college, I stopped working out because I find it difficult to continue working out because of the huge workload. I am very amazed to learn that being physically active can actually increase GPA, and I may want to restart my workout someday to see if it really helps my performance.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruiqi. When I came to college, I hit the same wall in terms of working out and staying active. Doing research for this blog made me realize how important it is though, and I'm really glad that it helped you as well! Thanks for reading.
DeleteHi Ian! Your post very helpful. I relate to this post quite a bit. I originally came to college with the thought of pursuing Ultimate Frisbee, however I quickly figured out how busy college life is. I barely had any time with going to class, doing homework, and working a part time job. The workload combined with a history of small injuries ultimately lead me to not pursue Ultimate Frisbee. I went from having some sort of physical activity 6 days a week to very minimal in college. I have since adjusted to the college workload and have been more physically active. I can for sure see how being more active can affect your studying and GPA in a positive manner the way you mentioned it in your post.
ReplyDeleteHi Edward. It's certainly tough to maintain schoolwork and physical activity, especially with a job too! I'm happy to hear that you have found a good balance once you adjusted. I'm glad my post could be relatable and informational to you, thanks for reading!
DeleteHi, Ian! I found your post very helpful and relatable. Before coming to college, I really wanted to be part of the women's club basketball team here at Pitt. I played basketball all through high school, and wanted to be able to continue playing. But when the school year started, the work load kicked in quick, and I realized I didn't think I was going to be able to handle all of this at once. I tried going to the gym a few days a week just to stay active, but I wasn't able to keep up with it. I can see now that being more active may help with my schoolwork and increase my GPA. This is very motivating, I'm going to try to be more active for the rest of this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Kaylie! I understand your predicament with the club basketball team. I was also going to pursue a college sport (track and field), but I ran into the exact same issues! I'm glad this post could motivate you for the rest of the semester! Thank you for reading.
DeleteGreat post, Ian! I love going to the gym and feel like it eases my anxiety associated with studying. I usually lift weights at the Pete but also love playing soccer. I have been trying to get to the gym every day but sometimes don't have the energy. Your post has motivated me and I will try even harder to go every day. I also try my best to eat healthy and found the diet aspect of your post to be very informative. Thank you!
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