Are you going to study medicine abroad? Great, you're starting a fantastic adventure! A lot of new colleagues, new places, academic classes, parties, and events. It becomes a challenge to keep yourself healthy and fit. You're always in a hurry. Stress is part of a student’s everyday life. You're eating fast food. 

You’re not sleeping because of the early lectures. You're sitting and studying 70 percent of the time. It's not difficult to slip up and to have health issues or simply gain some weight from this lifestyle. Here are some useful ways that will help you to avoid this:

Yeah, I know, especially when you're studying for exams, you don't have time for exercise. Studying medicine can be a challenge. Believe it or not, some studies show that aerobic activity improves memory and revision. More blood is pumped to the brain, and this affects your cognitive abilities. You don't need to spend two hours at the gym for that. A 40 minutes training session is more than enough. You can do a set of pushups or situps every hour. This is also a great way to rest your eyes from reading. It will improve your concentration and memory by bringing more blood and oxygen to your brain. Just don't forget to warm up your joints before you workout. 

Studying medicine abroad is the best time to meet new people. And what a better way to practice your favorite sport or to explore a new one? Just join some sports team at your medical institution. 

I know, when you're in a hurry, there is no time to cook, especially when you're studying medicine. You need something quick. Escape from fast foods by a simple hack. Take in your backpack, so you are ready to eat fruit like a banana or some kind of nuts. Fruits can help you to avoid sweets too. You know that simple sugars not only build fat, but they also spike your insulin to the skies. This will make you feel more hungry and lethargic in the long run. It will affect your attention spans and will impede your short term memory. It also will affect your mood stability.

Everyday tasks can build up while you're studying in Europe. When you have lots of revision and not enough time to sleep, it's easy to reach for an energy drink. Try to avoid them, only two cans from some brands can put you over the safety limit. They will make you jittery and nervous. And don't combine them with coffee, green or black tea. Another nasty fact is that you will build tolerance for caffeine. This will simply make you crave more energy drinks.

Music can improve your mood quickly, hence help you to stay healthy. It can wake you up and decrease your need for caffeine or can calm you down when you feel anxious. It can also improve your concentration during your studying session.

Sometimes the stress of university is overwhelming. Do you have problems with sleep? Or you're simply feeling constantly tired. You study medicine, but don't go for a pill yet. The vast percentage of the population is magnesium deficient. One of the symptoms is constant fatigue. You can try to supplement this element. No need to look for multivitamins. A lot of them are not appropriately absorbed from the body when you're taking them like a pill. So just go for a diet rich in fruits and veggies. A great way to battle the stress while you're studying medicine is to look for adaptogenic herbs. Such like: Ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, Arctic root, etc. They will revitalize your body and will bring back your energy and good mood during your educational journey.

It's a good idea when you start studying in a foreign country to register with a doctor and dentist. You never know when you're going to need specialist medical care. Also, as a medical student, I’m sure you are aware that prevention is better than cure.