5 foods to make you smarter

Eat your way to a better IQ with these brain-boosting foods

Got a big exam coming up, a difficult problem to solve, or just fancy adding a few points to your IQ? Then try adding these foods to your shopping basket to give your brain a boost.

Oily fish

If you struggle to remember what day it is or what you had for dinner an hour ago, consider stocking up on the ultimate brain food, oily fish. Omega-3 fatty acids – found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines – are invaluable for just about every part of our body, and it seems our brains are no different. Researchers from the University of Kuopio in Finland found that eating oily fish three times a week reduces the risk of brain problems by 26 per cent and prevents against memory loss.

Dark, leafy greens

Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli are packed with antioxidants, including vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are essential to keep your body and brain in good health. They are also a good source of folate, which can help to speed up information processing and memory recall. Research results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also indicated that the folate found in leafy green vegetables can help to protect against cognitive decline in old age.

Eggs

Egg yolks are nutritional powerhouses packed with many vitamins and minerals essential for good brain function.  This cheap and versatile ingredient is a good source of iron, which is essential for creating red blood cells which carry oxygen to the brain, helping to keep your mental faculties sharp and to keep you alert and focused. Eggs are also a good source of vitamin B12 – a deficiency of which can lead to memory loss and confusion – and iodine, which has been shown to improve problem-solving abilities even in only mildly deficient children.

Green tea

As your brain is made up of around 80 per cent water, keeping it properly hydrated is vital for helping it to function at optimum levels. However, if you’re not a fan of regular water, swapping it for a cup of green tea could have added benefits for your brain. A Korean study has found that green tea can help to increase mental alertness and enhance your memory. Researchers have also found that the antioxidants found in green tea can help to protect the brain and reduce risk of dementia.

Chocolate

No, it’s not just wishful thinking – chocolate really is good for you! While chomping on bars of milk chocolate is unlikely to improve your IQ score, dark chocolate is rich in brain-boosting chemicals, called flavonoids, which can enhance your cognitive skills. Research has found that flavonoids induce the creation of new neurons in the brain and also improve their ability to form new memories. Studies also show that flavonoids improve blood flow to the brain. One study of adult women found that when given flavonoid-rich chocolate drinks, the blood flow to participants' brains increased within two hours and they performed better on a complex mental task.
http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/5-foods-to-make-you-smarter/
 

Top fitness benefits you may be unaware of

The benefits of regular exercise

Getting fit through a program of regular exercise has numerous benefits for your body and mind. However, there are also many little known health benefits too, including better hearing, focus and even sex drive. Here's our guide to some of the benefits of exercise that are not so well known.

Slimmer thighs, firmer muscles, more energy and a healthier heart are all pay-offs you’d expect from getting fitter – but here are seven benefits of improved fitness that you may not have thought of...

Deeper sleep after exercise

Being active during the day can help you get more sleep in at night. According to the US National Sleep Foundation, daytime physical activity can help you to fall asleep more quickly and get better quality sleep. Regular exercise can also help sufferers of insomnia to beat their problem. And, contrary to popular belief, recent research from the University of California suggests that even late evening workouts won’t hamper your ability to get to sleep.

Better hearing through exercise

A study at Miami University found that cardiovascular training improves your hearing in the short term and helps to preserve it in the long term. Other studies have found that the least fit people tend to have the worst hearing – and that’s even taking into account the number of exercisers blasting their ears with iPods...

More creativity from working out

Brand new research from Rhode Island College suggests that aerobic exercise can kick-start your creativity – and keep your brain cells tingling for a couple of hours afterwards. Activities that are ‘no-brainers’ and don’t require you to put in too much thought are best – so pick running or swimming over rock climbing or doubles tennis. Also, don’t go too hard, as the best creativity boost comes from exercising at a comfortable pace.

Higher libido from exercise

Yes, being fit helps to improve your sex life! A study that looked at 8,000 women aged 18 to 49 found that in women who exercise three times a week, 40% report greater arousal, 31% have sex more often and 25% find orgasm easier to achieve. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health involving 31,000 men found that men who are physically active have a 30% lower risk of erectile dysfunction than men who do little or no physical activity.

Better quitting power through exercise

If you are trying to kick your smoking habit, research suggests that exercise might help. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed 281 sedentary female smokers, who were otherwise healthy, in their efforts to quit. The study found that smokers who take part assigned exercise sessions are twice as likely to quit and stay cigarette free compared to those who don’t do any exercise.

More regularity from exercise

Yes, we’re talking about how regularly you go to the bathroom here! An Australian study found that regular exercisers are less likely to suffer from constipation than sedentary people. The boost to your circulation – as well as the actual physical effects of movement – are thought to be the reason for this. There is even a link between high levels of fitness and low levels of bowel cancer – though this may be because fit people are more likely to eat healthily, too.

Better focus through exercising

The very fact that exercise requires planning, application, dedication and discipline means that every time you get your kit on, you are working on your character development, too. For example, a study of people training for a marathon in New York found that regular exercise improves people’s goal-setting, organization and discipline – both at work and in other areas of life.
http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/top-fitness-benefits-you-may-be-unaware-of/