Brain Foods: Eat Smart, Be Smart
A study published in FASEB adds to the increasing evidence that eating the right foods can help you get smarter.
In the study, gerbils were given various combinations of three compounds needed for healthy brain membranes: choline, found in eggs; uridine monophosphate (UMP) found in beets; and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish oils. Other gerbils were given none of these to serve as a baseline. Then they were checked for cognitive changes four weeks later. The scientists found that the gerbils given choline with UMP and/or DHA showed cognitive improvements in tasks thought to be relevant to gerbils, such as navigating mazes. After these tests were concluded, the researchers dissected the mouse brains for a biological cause for the improvement. They found biochemical evidence that there was more than the usual amount of brain synapse activity, which was consistent with behaviors indicating higher intelligence.
Eggs, beets, and fish. Could it be that easy to boost brain power?
I’m a firm believer that nutrition can improve basically every aspect of your life. It’s easy to believe that nutrition can affect brain power because of the way the brain works on the chemical level. I don’t think that a diet change is going to instantly increase IQ, but I think that it can help improve brain function.