FE ana SCYIC Back-to-school brain foods Eat your way to an A! By Sharon Miki h; September: that lovely time of O= when we venture bravely back to the halls and, consequently, back to the mall for back-to-school shopping. However, as we snip the tags from our new wares and crack open our fresh books, why not consider an overhaul on what we buy at the grocery store? Summer foods like hot dogs and slurpees might be tasty, but processed meats and corn syrup might not be the best choices for fuelling student success. Instead, consider picking up some brain-boosting foods to improve memory, concentration, and mental endurance to last the semester. Antioxidants Find it in: cabbage, berries, broccoli, avocado, chocolate Benefits: Eating antioxidants are like wearing a seatbelt: it helps protect you from harm. Our bodies produce waste products called free radicals that can damage the brain and lead to disease. Luckily, antioxidants contain properties that help prevent free radicals from taking too much of a toll. Fibre Find it in: oatmeal, brown rice Benefits: Fibre-rich foods stabilize your blood-sugar, which keeps your mood stable ~ and promotes concentration. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Find it in: salmon, yellow fin tuna, fish oils Benefits: Omega-3s are useful in improving the function of brain cell membranes by | keeping membranes flexible, promoting. nutrient absorption and helping to transmit brain signals—allowing you to think fast. Caffeine _ Find it in: coffee, tea Benefits: Okay, don’t go crazy with this one— because caffeine is a tricky thing that you can have too much of (see: it’s hard to take notes with shaky hands). - However, in moderation, caffeine is useful for sharpening focus, attention and reaction time. Water Find it in: water _ Benefits: Good for more than swimming and showers, water actually makes up a huge proportion of your body and nearly three-quarters of the brain. Keeping hydrated allows your brain cells to function at full capacity. Okay, students, try munching on those tasty treats and, if you need more nutritional guidance, visit one of Douglas College’s naturopaths. Full-time students with Green Shield Canada health plans are eligible for up to $300.00 reimbursement per year for wellness services like naturopathy. For more information, visit: www. douglas.bc.ca/campus-life/wellness/ services .html Babe on a budget How to save money when re-decorating By Stephanie Trembath, Life & Style Editor y recent release from the six bedroom house I was sharing with five lovely femmes in Burnaby allowed for an opportunity to learn and experience new things about myself. After spending the last two sticky summer months picking hair out of bathtub drains, collecting dried food from sofa armchairs, and running around the house turning off lights and glaring at people who dared leave lamps on (reminiscent of my mother’s style while I was in high school) I decided that my high-maintenance mantra was exactly what I needed to get out of my lease agreement. Much like my first decision to move, I decided I needed a new place and was looking at the apartment I currently live in two days later. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it, am I right? My move this time went much smoother and was much more exciting, thanks to the boyfriend who is coming with me, and the fact that I got to completely redecorate an entire apartment. Who knew I would have such a hard-on for furniture? I’ve never spent any time wandering furniture stores or shopped online; one might even say that I’ve switched my 8 clothing obsession for loveseats and lampshades. I currently have my eye ona $215 red swivel chair, and a wall divider that is marked down to $250 from $1200. Not that am actually going to purchase these pieces, but window shopping to get an idea of what you like never hurts... right? One thing I have taken away from this whole experience is just how immensely valuable craigslist is. Rather than purchasing full price furniture and accessories, if you have the time and muscle, I really recommend using craigslist to furnish your apartment or living space. For one, there are hundreds of people giving stuff away for free; I received a new microwave from one couple who were moving into a new place complete with all kitchen appliances. A girl who was in a hurry to move and needed to get rid of all her belongings fast sold us her brand new coffee table and leather futon for over 50% off. The beauty of today’s technology means you can double check exactly how much your craigslist purchases initially cost and where they came from. When you move, especially when you move in with a significant other, not all your pieces match or fit, so it’s best to shop sales or used stores to fill your space rather than going brand new. If you’re on a student budget, craigslist is definitely the way to go, but you need to commit the time. You'll also need some muscle and a vehicle to transport larger pieces. The leather futon I purchased had to be moved immediately, which was unfortunately on a Friday night, when all friends were busy and truck rentals were closed, so my partner and I wound up carrying the couch across Burnaby. Let mie tell you; running a large couch across busy streets to avoid walking the extra ten metres to crosswalks is not the workout I had in mind for a Friday night. But it got the job done, and the couch looks great under a few paintings I salvaged from my old place. If you do decide to move sometime this semester, here are a few things to keep in mind: finding furniture on Craigslist is a good idea, finding roommates is not. Relying on friends may seem like a good way to save money, however, when you’re stuck walking couches across Burnaby on a hot Friday night you may just change your mind and opt to hire movers next time instead. Finally, trying to match and complete sets of plates, cups, cutlery, towels, bedding, etc. is completely unnecessary. Until you grow up, and get your own house, all of that stuff gets broken, misplaced, or smelly and gross beyond use anyway.