Whether you recently entered the world of work, you’re a current student or a university applicant it’s likely you know that competition in the UK has never been so fierce. From getting that lucrative graduate career to securing a university place, life is hard in the rat race. You need to boost your concentration levels with brain food so you can focus to revise or prepare for that nerve-wracking interview.

In 2010 higher education applications increased by more than 106,000 when compared with 2009, bringing the total to nearly 600,000. At the same time the government is to make cuts to the tune of £315 million from university budgets, leading to 6,000 fewer places being available for this autumn than a year ago. The result, academics warn, is a potential 200,000 people finding themselves without a course to study come September.

At the other end of the spectrum higher education leavers are not looking too confident in their prospects. Last April the graduate research company High Flyers reported that only 36 per cent of final year students believed there would be a job waiting for them when they finished their studies. It doesn’t take a First Class Honours to know that you need to be on top form to be in with a chance of success.

It may sound odd, but make sure you’re eating enough essential fats, especially Omega-3. It helps optimise performance of the brain, which is more than 60 per cent fat. Protein and carbohydrates are also vital to maintain and boost good mental fitness.

Although vitamins A, C and E are the one’s to concentrate on for memory preservation, the B complex plays an essential role in your brain’s performance, and your body’s energy levels. Drinking water is vital to stay alert, with a mere 2 per cent drop in hydration leading to a significant fall in your cognitive and physical potential.

The human body is a finely tuned machine, but so is the brain. Maintaining the optimum level of nutrients and minerals is important for all-round health, so look for supplements that help to restore the balance you need to always be at your best. It’s not rocket science.