It’s that time of the year again for the annual Gaokao, a chance for most students in China to prove their years of hard work and maybe change their fates. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, 9.39 million students will take the exam, an increase of 270,000 compared to 2013. One Chinese saying compares the exam to a stampede of "thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of horses across a single log bridge". To best equip oneself for the competition, a healthy diet is necessary and the right choice of memory boosters is especially helpful. But which foods are important to sharpen your memory or increase your focus?

Go Nuts

Eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids like nuts may be associated with lower blood levels of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease and memory problems, according to a new study from the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Nuts contain important nutrients such as unsaturated fats, high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, all of which may offer cardioprotective, anticarcinogenic, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Dark Chocolate

Natural dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that come from cacao beans it is made from. The higher the percentage of cocoa solids, the more antioxidants it contains.

Studies claim that eating a little dark chocolate two or three times each week can help lower blood pressure, improve circulation and help prevent hardening of the arteries. The flavonols in chocolate improve blood vessel function, which in turn improves cognitive function and memory. Chocolate also improves mood, can ease pain, and is full of antioxidants.

Go for Wholegrain

Whole grains are rich in complex carbohydrates, fiber, and some omega 3 fatty acids that shield the heart and brain from damaging sugar spikes, cholesterol and blood clots. Grains also contain vitamin B which has an effect on blood flow to the brain and mood.

Get a Blueberry Boost

"Brainberries" is what Steven Pratt, MD, author of "Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life" calls these tasty fruits. Researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Blueberries have twice the number of antioxidants that spinach has, and it is also rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that is effective in lowering cholesterol. Fresh blueberries are higher in vitamins A and C than frozen or canned. Many provinces in China now grow blueberries commercially, especially in the northeast.

Eat More Broccoli

Good memory requires the constant creation of new connections in the brain. The brain makes the most connections when it is stimulated. That’s why you remember events that occurred when you were emotionally or intellectually stimulated more clearly. Acetylcholine helps to keep the brain stimulated. Broccoli is also a great source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.