News Briefs

Increasing Intelligence
Since the advent of intelligence tests the idea of IQ as more or less
fixed has prevailed; but once again the old is giving way to the new
for use it or lose has just gained some new traction. In a study
reported in the May 24th issue of Science News, a 25-minute memory
training session conducted daily led to increasing intelligence for
both those with high and low problem-solving proficiency. (Bower 2008)

If you want to improve your mind try learning something new everyday
and applying the 25-minute memorization process to what you are
learning. It would appear that the gains are not limited to memory
improvement but rather infiltrate in ways that generally increase
cognitive abilities particularly those associated with abstract
thinking and problem solving.

Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.

1. Minimize Television Watching - This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.

Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.

When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.

2. Exercise - I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.

3. Read Challenging Books - Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.

Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.

4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.

If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.

5. Take Time to Reflect - Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.

I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.

Conclusion - I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.

If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post: 5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.

Related Articles:

* 5 More Ways to Increase Your Intelligence
* Learn to Understand Your Own Intelligence
* Focus Better by Listening to Music
* Improve Your Personal Effectiveness by Finding Balance

https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-simple-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/

increase your intelligence to the level you’re capable of achieving, take a moment and read through the list below. Choosing these foods will not only make you appear smart to those around you, they will actually help you to increase your mental clarity and ability to think.

Fish Oil

As the old saying goes, "Fish is brain food." Unfortunately, I can’t recommend fish because it is overwhelmingly contaminated with mercury and dangerous PCBs. What I can recommend, however--and I can’t recommend it highly enough--is fish oil. Packed with beneficial omega-3 fats including DHA, fish oil may reduce inflammation in the brain and offer a protective effect.

Our brains are made up of approximately 60 percent fat, and most of this fat is either DHA or AA (arachidonic acid). AA is best obtained from uncooked dairy products like raw butter and raw cream, but DHA is primarily obtained from fish sources, not plant sources like flax seed.

When using fish oil or cod liver oil it is important to obtain a high-quality reputable brand. In my research--and in my clinical experience with my patients--I have found that:

* The liquid form is superior to capsules
* Certain brands definitely seem inferior to others
* The Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is of an exceptional quality and purity

It is likely not the only brand in the world of such high quality, but up to this point it is the only one of such quality that I can recommend, so I now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com; you can also check your local health food store to see if they carry it.

Now is the time of year when people living in cooler climates will want to switch from fish oil to cod liver oil. The main difference between cod liver oil and fish oil is that cod liver oil is high in vitamin D. In warm weather months, the more intense sunshine allows your body to produce high and usually sufficient levels of vitamin D without any supplementation necessary. However, in cool weather when intense sun exposure is limited, your body will need more vitamin D, and so I recommend cod liver oil versus fish oil in cool weather months or climates.
I generally recommend that you take cod liver oil from autumn to early spring, and fish oil from late spring through the end of summer. However, those who live in more tropical environments with regular exposure to more intense sun will most likely be fine taking fish oil year round, as your vitamin D intake from the sun will be sufficient. If you aren't sure of what you should take, please have your vitamin D levels tested as it is possible to overdose on vitamin D.

Organic, Raw Vegetables (Metabolically Appropriate)

There is little that compares to the nutritional value of organic, raw vegetables according to your Metabolic Type. Specifically, low levels of folic acid, a nutrient found in green leafy vegetables, have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and the many antioxidants and phtyochemicals in vegetables will help to keep your mind sharp.

My general recommendation is to eat one pound of vegetables daily for every 50 pounds of body weight. The easiest way to achieve this is be regularly consuming vegetable juice.

However, if you know your Metabolic Type then you will want to modify this recommendation based on the results. For instance, if you are a strong protein type (like me), then you really don’t need as many vegetables, perhaps as little as half a pound to a pound a day would be sufficient for the typical protein-type adult.

If you find you are more of a protein type then your vegetables would also be oriented more toward lower potassium varieties, like cauliflower, green beans, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, celery and avocados. Regular lettuces and typically wonderful vegetables like collard greens, kale and Swiss chard are far too high in potassium for protein types and will tend to cause biochemical imbalances. This also means that if you are a protein type, vegetable juicing may not be necessary at all. On the other hand, a carb type may benefit from consuming far more vegetables, and the best varieties would include the collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, and so on, which were not ideal for protein types.

Please note that while I recommend organic vegetables for the most nutritional benefits, if you can’t find or afford them, don’t use this as an excuse not to eat any vegetables. Eating any vegetables, whether they are organic or not, is much better than not eating any vegetables at all.

Raw Eggs

Raw whole eggs are a phenomenally inexpensive and incredible source of high-quality nutrients that many of us are deficient in, especially high-quality protein and fat. While it may take some getting used to, this is a simple way to improve your mind and your overall health. Eating cooked eggs will not have the same effect, although the less you cook the egg, the better it will be nutritionally.

There are several ways to consume raw eggs: "rocky style," a whole egg with the yolk intact swallowed whole, blended in a shake using some raw milk, or stirred gently into your vegetable juice or Living Fuel Rx.

If you’re concerned about salmonella, please review the raw eggs article in the links below for information that will relieve your concerns.

Avoid Sugar

This is obviously not a food, but more of a "foods-to-avoid" category. If you want to perform at your top level, intelligence-speaking or otherwise, it is imperative to limit, if not completely avoid, sugar. High-sugar foods will disrupt your body's homeostasis and insulin levels, which will contribute to disease and brain fog.

Some easy ways to avoid sugar in your diet is to cut out soda and candy, but also watch out for less obvious sources like fruit juice.

Blueberries

Not only do blueberries taste good, but they are one of the most potent antioxidant foods on the planet. They are small and densely packed with a variety of potent phytochemcials that can do wonders to normalize and improve health, including direct benefits to the brain. Blueberries have been shown to actually reverse some of the aging that occurs in the brain.

Blueberries are full of other health-promoting qualities as well, and my only caution for them is to watch how many you eat at once due to their sugar content. Other small, darkly colored berries, like cherries, raspberries, gooseberries and mulberries provide similar health benefits.

We now carry delicious and convenient Wild Blueberry IQ Softgel Capsules in our store that are made from whole fresh blueberries -- and contain 40mg of potent disease fighting anthocyanins per capsule -- more than any other available supplement!

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/11/01/intelligence-foods.aspx
Related Articles:

Raw Eggs for Your Health -- Major Update

Healthy Diet Keeps Brain Sharp Into Old Age

Berries--The Best Overall Fruits for Your Health

124 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health