WEBVTT

00:00:00.470 --> 00:00:03.648
Music

00:00:03.648 --> 00:00:06.629
Angela Guo: So, it's the old adage
on what you eat

00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:12.800
when I eaτ sugary or caffeinated food
I often find myself, like unable to focus

00:00:13.394 --> 00:00:18.230
So, eating healthier food
has a significant impact on

00:00:18.230 --> 00:00:23.410
how well I can focus, as well as
how quick I can focus.

00:00:23.950 --> 00:00:25.594
Sanjay Gupta: That's Angela Guo.

00:00:25.982 --> 00:00:28.978
She's a 17-year old senior at
Adlai Stevenson high school

00:00:29.309 --> 00:00:31.070
in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

00:00:31.568 --> 00:00:34.954
And that adage she just cited,
"You are what you eat",

00:00:35.398 --> 00:00:37.522
that's been around since the 1800's.

00:00:37.928 --> 00:00:42.218
People have known for a long time
just how much food affects us.

00:00:42.818 --> 00:00:45.650
But it's not just in term of
long-term health,

00:00:45.966 --> 00:00:48.123
but also short-term mood.

00:00:48.664 --> 00:00:54.354
AG Food really helps us maintain
a safe clarity

00:00:48.589 --> 00:00:58.691
And sio eating healthier food has
a significant impact

00:00:58.691 --> 00:01:04.270
on how well I can focus, as well as
how quick I can think.

00:01:05.008 --> 00:01:07.171
SG: She may only be in high school
but Angela has already made

00:01:07.171 --> 00:01:10.117
the crucial connection between
what she puts in her mouth

00:01:10.494 --> 00:01:12.950
and how quickly that affects her brain.

00:01:13.510 --> 00:01:15.729
She even believes that
simple understanding

00:01:16.078 --> 00:01:18.259
gave her a real advantage
when she competed

00:01:18.259 --> 00:01:21.277
in the National Science Olympiad
tournament earlier this year.

00:01:22.006 --> 00:01:27.245
Announcer: First place: National
champions of the 2023 Science xxxx

00:01:27.245 --> 00:01:33.023
national tournament: Adlai Stevenson
high school of Illinois, let's go!!

00:01:33.663 --> 00:01:35.785
SG: Now at this tournament
earlier this year,

00:01:35.951 --> 00:01:38.957
Angela and her team mates went up
against thousands of students

00:01:38.957 --> 00:01:40.179
from around the country.

00:01:40.179 --> 00:01:43.492
They were competing in events
highlighting chemistry, and neuroscience

00:01:43.492 --> 00:01:44.595
and biology.

00:01:44.870 --> 00:01:48.006
But here is the thing:
the entire time on Angela's team

00:01:48.244 --> 00:01:50.259
you really didn't see much sugar around.

00:01:50.430 --> 00:01:53.037
Instead,
there were lots of healthy snacks.

00:01:54.310 --> 00:01:56.969
AG So, even at school, I bring
my own lunch

00:01:57.171 --> 00:02:00.687
and it's just the asset of
knowing what goes into your meals

00:02:00.911 --> 00:02:03.645
is like really important, it kind of
gives you peace of mind.

00:02:04.093 --> 00:02:08.185
SG: The team did really well, and now
as they prepare for more tournaments,

00:02:08.477 --> 00:02:12.944
Angela, who now is team captain, says,
sure, they study hard,

00:02:13.192 --> 00:02:17.791
but what they eat, how they eat,
that's also top of mind.

00:02:18.312 --> 00:02:22.627
AG: When we do travel for science contests
our cook always makes sure that

00:02:22.629 --> 00:02:26.512
we are well stocked with fruit and water.

00:02:26.852 --> 00:02:31.249
SG: So Angela seems pretty convinced
that food helps her focus

00:02:31.249 --> 00:02:33.447
and perform well academically.

00:02:33.866 --> 00:02:37.203
Of course, that makes sense
but the question today,

00:02:37.409 --> 00:02:41.970
"What is the empirical evidence
to support that and how does it work?

00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:44.659
How exactly does food impact the brain?

00:02:44.969 --> 00:02:48.361
And how do we really know when our brain
is well nourished?"

00:02:48.864 --> 00:02:56.661
Uma Naidoo: Sugar is not xxxx brain