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Music

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Angela Guo: So, it's the old adage
on what you eat

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when I ear sugary or caffeinated food
I often find myself, like unable to focus

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So, eating healthier food
has a significant impact on

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how well I can focus, as well as
how quick I can focus.

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Sanjay Gupta: That's Angela guo.

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She's a 17-year old senior at
Adlai Stevenson high school

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in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

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And that adage she just cited,
"You are what you eat",

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that's been around since the 1800's.

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People have known for a long time
just how much food affects us.

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But it's not just in term of
long-term health,

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but also short-term mood.

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AG: So eating healthier food has
a significant impact

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on how well I can focus, as well as
how quick I can think.

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SG: She may only be in high school
but Angela has already made

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the crucial connection between
what she puts in her mouth

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and how quickly that affects her brain.

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She even believes that
simple understanding

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gave her a real advantage
when she competed

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in the National Science Olympiad
tournament earlier this year.

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Announcer: First place: National
champions of the 2023 Science xxxx

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tournament: Adlai Stevenson
high school of Illinois, let's go!!

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SG: Now at this tournament
earlier this year,

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Angela and her team mates went up
against thousands of students

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from around the country.

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They were competing in events
highlighting chemistry, and neuroscience

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and biology.

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But here is the thing:
the entire time on Angela's team

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you really didn't see much sugar around.

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Instead,
there were lots of healthy snacks.

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AG So, even at school, I bring
my own lunch

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and it's just the asset of
knowing what goes into your meals

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is like really important, it kind of
gives you peace of mind.

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SG: The team did really well, and now
as they prepare for more tournaments,

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Angela, who now is team captain, says,
sure, they study hard,

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but what they eat, how they eat,
that's also top of mind.

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AG: when we do travel for science contests
our cook always makes sure that

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we are well stocked with fruit and water.

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SG: So Angela seems pretty convinced
that food helps her focus

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and perform well academically.

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Of course, that makes sense
but the question today,

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"What is the empirical evidence
to support that and how does it work?

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How exactly does food impact the brain?

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And how do we really know when our brain
is well nourished?"

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Uma Naidoo: Sugar is not xxxx brain