Eat Your Way Smart: IQ-Boosting Foods are a No-Brainer

By Pamela Harding, Natural Solutions

Can some foods really make you more intelligent, have smarter kids, improve your memory, help you think more clearly, and perhaps even forestall the onset of those so-called “senior moments”–or worse, dementia?

The answer is yes, provided you take a balanced, holistic approach to nutrition and don’t get hung up on magic-bullet thinking–the belief that eating specific foods–or even supplements of isolated components found in some foods–is going to instantly boost your brain power or make your kid a genius.

“It’s all about balance and moderation,” says Patrick Sullivan, PhD, Associate Professor, Geriatrics, at Duke University’s Department of Medicine. Sullivan says that so-called brain foods also deliver nutrients that are good for your heart, liver, and kidneys. “The body was designed to use a variety of building blocks in foods to maintain optimal health overall–not to use one for the brain or heart or one specifically for the kidney,” he explains. “You really need to regularly eat a variety of foods that are good for you.”

Another important message: Start early. “Much of the discussion of nutrition and brain health is linked with infants and kids–the sooner good nutrition comes into play in a person’s life, the better the payout,” says Susan Moores, RD, a nutrition expert in St. Paul, Minnesota. She stresses the importance of good nutrition even before a woman becomes pregnant. It’s never too late to improve your diet, says Moores. However, if you don’t adopt a healthy diet until you’re 65, you probably won’t get “nearly as big a benefit as if you had started earlier.”

13 Natural Memory Boosters

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Emma S.

12:18AM PDT on May 2, 2013

I've got a hankering for nuts now, too!

May 2
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Natasha S.

7:19AM PST on Feb 13, 2013

Thanks. Guess i'll be snacking on nuts today!!!!

February 13
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Sam T.

7:52AM PST on Dec 26, 2011

I love Planters Fruit & Nut Trail Mix and just bought some, plan to eat it later!

December 26
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Liny T.

9:21PM PDT on Aug 30, 2011

thanks :)

August 30
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Melinda K.

2:51AM PDT on Aug 24, 2011

Some great advice!

August 24
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Judith V.

9:29AM PDT on Aug 10, 2011

They need to be blanched, roasted, and then dried. There is an enzyme that inhibits complete absorption of all of the nutrients.That's why the seed/nut preserves so well. A hormone is there that needs to be removed/broken down!