Exploring the scientific evidence linking nutrition to cognitive function in future scientists
In the hallways of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the National University of Trujillo during the first months of 2015, a curious paradox unfolded: future life scientists whose own cognitive vitality was compromised by eating habits that contradicted every biological principle of optimality. While studying complex metabolic processes and biological systems in their classrooms, many of these students underestimated how their food choices directly influenced their ability to understand these phenomena.
Research shows that inadequate nutrition can reduce learning capacity and concentration in students 1 .
Biology students require mental sharpness, sustained concentration, and analytical ability - all affected by nutrition.
The brain needs essential nutrients for its development, and an inadequate diet can impact its learning capacity - Nutritionist Saby Mauricio 1
Ultra-processed foods typically contain:
When a student regularly consumes this type of food, they experience progressive deficiencies in their fundamental academic abilities. Research indicates that habitual consumption of products with warning labels "can reduce the capacity for concentration and learning in schoolchildren" 1 .
Causes energy spikes and crashes affecting focus
Poor fats don't support neuronal structures
Excess sodium affects hydration and concentration
A child who consumes 200 calories of sugar is not receiving the proteins or healthy fats necessary for their brain development. It's as if they weren't eating - Nutritionist Saby Mauricio 1
A Mexican study by Ramos-Morales et al. offers methods and findings applicable to the context of Trujillo 2 . This study involved 202 children aged 9-12 years, excluding those on dietary regimens or with other hormonal deficiencies.
Weight and height were measured to calculate BMI, classifying participants into normal, overweight, or obese categories.
Through a self-applied questionnaire, fast food consumption was recorded, assigning each subject an intake level (frequent, habitual, or occasional).
Chi-square test was applied to analyze the proportion of normal, overweight, and obese subjects according to fast food consumption frequency.
The findings were compelling: more than 50% of the studied children were overweight or obese, especially males 2 . But most relevant was the significant association between fast food consumption and weight level.
| Consumption Frequency | Normal Nutritional Status | Overweight | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasional | Higher proportion | - | - |
| Habitual | - | - | - |
| Frequent | Lower proportion | - | Higher proportion |
Source: Adapted from Ramos-Morales et al. (2006) 2
| Sex | Intake Level | Odds Ratio | Risk Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Frequent | 3.33 | 233% |
| Female | Frequent | 2.4 | 140% |
| Both | Frequent | 3.0 | 200% |
Source: Own elaboration based on Ramos-Morales et al. (2006) 2
The solution transcends individual responsibility; it requires institutional commitment to create environments that facilitate healthy choices.
The food supply in the school environment requires a fundamental remodeling that allows the consumption of foods with nutritional quality - Dr. Alejandra Cantoral 4
While structural changes are implemented, students can adopt immediate measures to improve their nutrition.
These options are not only healthy but also easy to prepare. It's not necessary to invest much time; in less than five minutes you can assemble a balanced and varied lunch - Specialist 1
The analyzed evidence reveals an undeniable relationship between junk food consumption and deterioration of academic performance, a link particularly worrying for biological science students whose success depends directly on their cognitive capacity.
The Mexican study findings, although conducted in a school population, establish a solid methodological precedent that suggests the urgency of investigating this problem in the specific context of the National University of Trujillo.
The solution transcends merely prohibiting foods; as Dr. Cantoral states, "obesity is a multicausal public health problem that requires actions, programs and interventions in different areas: school, social, family, municipal, state, national" 4 . For Trujillo's future biologists, reconciling scientific knowledge with personal food practice is not just a matter of individual health, but an exercise in professional coherence that could turn them into agents of change for a healthier society.
While research advances, each student has the opportunity to become an experimental subject of their own food transformation, applying the scientific method to their nutritional choices and documenting how these impact their academic performance.