(click on the following headings for further information)
General Discussion

Why in a website about college admissions would someone want to talk about nutrition and wellness?

Because somehow you have to stay well enough to do all the things you want to do during high school, college and beyond. Whether you are a premier athlete or a scholar, your body needs the appropriate fuel to perform well.

So in a nutshell what are some of the things you can do in your daily life to feed your body correctly?

    *    Eat a well balanced diet -- heavy on the fruits and veggies and whole grains and
          low on the fat and the junk.

    *    Try and keep the refined sugar and carb intake down.

    *    Drink plenty of water.

    *    Get good quality and amount of sleep every night.

    *    De-stress your life as much as possible and find ways to deal with the
          stress you do have.

    *    Exercise regularly. Don't have to run a marathon -- a good 20-30 minute walk
          will do.

Why are these things important?

   *     Eating a well-balanced diet fills your body with disease-fighting anti-oxidants and
          keeps your body and brain working at their peak levels.

    *    Sugar suppresses the body's immune system.

    *    Your body is made mostly of water. You need to replace it daily. Keeps your
            muscles and brain "well-oiled".

    *    Lack of good quality sleep keeps your body and mind from working at
          peak performance and suppresses the immune system.

    *    Stress, if not defused, will suppress the immune system.

    *    Exercise keeps the body & muscles working well and helps with stress.

Murphy's Law for Students

When is the most high-stress time during the semester? Usually exam week.

What do most students, of any age, survive on prior to and during exam week?
    Nutrition consists of candy, cookies, soda, boxed cereal, sugar-laden coffees and
         topped off with more soda. Very little water intake.
    Little or no sleep for days on end.
    Stressed to the max.
    Exercise consists of running to the exam room and hoping to make it on time.

And what happens to a lot of students right before, during or right after exam week? They get sick and fall apart -- so that last studying doesn't get done, can't even see straight through the exams and semester break is toast due to recovery from whatever latest "bug" your body is hosting.

Why does Murphy's Law for Students happen?

We know that a lack of good nutrition, water replenishment, sleep and exercise combined with massive stress equals suppressed immune systems.

Here's a stat: The amount of sugar just two 12-ounce cans of soda suppresses the immune system (for up to 40%) starting 30 minutes and for up to five or six hours after ingesting.

So during the end of a semester and exam week, how many sodas do you drink? How many candy bars and cookies? Add to that mix no sleep and high stress.

It's a miracle if anyone gets through the process well.

The Internet

Click here to learn more about the FDA 2005 Food Pyramid.

Click here to learn more about good nutrition.

Click here to learn more about the Five A Day Program.

 © 2005 [Wildwood Country Press]. All rights reserved.
Revised: August 15, 2005 .