Posted on Friday, March 22nd, 2013 at 7:00 am

The food that you put into your mouth does more than fill your belly, it fuels your whole body. The way your body functions reflects the quality of the food you consume, poor diet choices can lead to poor functioning while healthy diet choices can help your body work as best as possible. If you will be studying abroad, it is especially important that you are giving your body the type of nutrients that it needs. Here are the top 5 healthiest foods while studying abroad that you won’t want to overlook at your next meal.

Brain Power Broccoli- Your mother was right when she said you should finish your broccoli. Broccoli has been linked to helping with cognitive function meaning it could potentially help you when it comes to pushing through your finals. Studying abroad can put your mind on overload- with the new environment, class style and language; it might be worth giving broccoli another try.

Excellent Eggs- Studying abroad requires a lot of brain power, but also muscle power! Being in a new locations means there will be a lot of exploring by biking, walking, hiking and climbing- participating in these will require you to have more than health insurance for these activities, you will also have to have the energy for them! If you are looking for a protein energy boost, turn to the egg. Just one egg has about 6 grams of protein.

Wonderful Watermelon- Traveling long distances, especially by air, can put a toll on the body. One key ingredient to traveling and feeling normal as quickly as possible after, is to stay hydrated. Watermelon is made up of approximately 90 percent water, making it a tasty way to stay hydrated, the reason why it makes it to the top 5 healthiest foods while studying abroad list. Watermelon is also thought to help relax blood vessels and improve circulation- something that is beneficial when it comes to a long flight to help prevent blood clots.

Super Spinach- Being in a new country means new germs! It’s inevitable that you will come across germs- especially when traveling, but you can help determine how they will have an effect on you by what you eat. Certain compounds in spinach may boost your immune system meaning eating spinach may give you the advantage over germs! Less time sick in bed means more time enjoying being an international student.

Amazing Avocado- There are plenty of costs involved with being an international student so it’s important to get the most bang for your buck. Avocado is the perfect food to do just that. Pairing avocado with certain foods can increase the amount of nutrients being absorbed into your body by up to 400 percent! That means your hard earned money that goes toward groceries or a school meal plan will be put to the best use possible.

Studying abroad can put a mental and physical strain on your body. A good place to start when it comes to taking care of yourself while in your host country is to look into these top 5 healthiest foods while studying abroad. Eat, drink and live healthy while abroad!

A man is divided a water-melon photo courtesy of shutterstock

*Always consult your doctor before making any dietary changes

Posted by Bryanna Davis

Bryanna joined International Student Insurance in 2011 after returning to the United States from teaching English in China. Her interest in international education, sparked initially by her own study abroad experience in Wales, led her to the company. Bryanna is originally from Missouri and is a graduate from the University of Central Missouri.