Many scientific researches have proved that there numerous and very effective ways to awaken our brain and become smarter. They‘ve also shown that the most basic human activities – such as having a normal social life, exercising, eating correctly, reading and playing music – are those that most efficiently activate our mind. But our brain also requires adequate nutrition and needs to be continuously exercised just like all other muscles in our body. The following are some scientifically based tips on how to enhance your intelligence and become smarter.
1. Improve Your Brain Function Through Simple Daily Activities
Be curious and express your opinions
Ask yourself questions and exercise your brain by trying to find answers and solutions in different ways.
Learn to speak a foreign language
It’s a good mental exercise, which affects the prefrontal cortex function that is responsible for decision making and control.
Become an expert at something you like
Specialize in a field and learn everything on a particular subject, may it be gardening, computers or cooking. It will sharpen your cognitive abilities and your brain will start being more efficient in learning other things as well.
Do physical exercises or take dance classes
Learning how to coordinate movements will enhance your brain abilities, while exercises will increase oxygen to your brain and improve your mental alertness.
2. Sleep, Drink Water and Become Smarter
A good night’s sleep (7-8 hours) or a nap during the day greatly improves our memory. During sleep our brain continues to elaborate memories and experiences of the day, which helps us remember things better when we wake up. In fact, many great companies, Google among them, provide nap rooms for their employees!
Water is also essential for our brain as much as for our body. If we don’t drink enough, our brain cells will not function properly. It is important to keep our brain hydrated in order to be more concentrated, think faster and improve mental clarity.
3. Feed Your Brain – It Consumes 20% of Your Daily Calories
Your brain is your operating center. It controls your intelligence, memory and mood, and at the same time sends, receives and interprets massages. In order to do so, it needs to eat. Become smarter just by learning which are the brain’s favorite foods, and provide your brain with those nutrients.
Become smarter with vitamins
The B group vitamins, and in particular vitamins B1, B6, B12 and folic acid (integral cereals, potatoes, cheese, milk, fish, lentils and rice) reduce nervousness and irritability, improve concentration and increase intellectual performance. Vitamin C (broccoli, citrus fruits, tomatoes and forest fruits) combats free-radical formation, while vitamin E (sunflower oil, nuts and hazelnut) protects brain cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Oxygenate your little grey cells and increase memory
Our brain needs to be oxygenated in order to work, therefore the consumption of potassium and sulfur is essential to its health. Foods containing potassium are citrus fruits, bananas, melons, apples, potatoes, sunflower seeds and mint leaves. Sulfur is found in fatless meat, fish, lettuce, cabbage, eggs, dried beans, onions and garlic.
Magnesium improves learning and memory and is contained in integral cereals, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, halibut, black beans and others.
Kick start your brain with tyrosin and chocolate
To function properly our brain needs amino acids, and especially tyrosine. Foods rich in tyrosine are white eggs, peanuts, seaweeds, cheese, fish and meat (not pork).
Serotonin regulates our mood, emotions, sleep capabilities and muscle contraction. More serotonin our brain produces, better we feel. So, go wild for chocolate!
Smarten and brighten your mind with Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients that help protect brain cells and are essential for its health. Unfortunately they cannot be produced by the human body, and therefore it is very important to consume them through food or dietary supplements. Food that contains great quantities of omega-3s is fish (salmon, mackerel, cod).
That’s the simple recipe for becoming smarter: train your brian by challenging it with activities like Sudoku, eat the right food and have enough rest. Yes, it’s that simple.
Add Comment