How to Stop Eating Yourself Dumb

Contributor

By Katherine Huether
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(2 Ratings)

We all know that poor nutrition can lead to bad health and even weight gain. Now, add "lack of intelligence" to the growing list. A recent article on PsychologyToday.com reports that what you eat--could very likely--play a role in how smart you are.

The article refers to a study where rats were fed a high-fat diet for 10 days. These rats were faced with fatigue and had trouble finding their way through a maze where there were treats waiting for them.

What does this mean for us? A high-fat diet could impair our intelligence, however, so can a calorie-restricted diet. The trick seems to be to find a nice balance.

Here are ways to achieve that happy medium--and instead--smarten up through diet, exercise and boosting your brain power.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Figure out how many calories you need to maintain your weight (see link to a calculator in Resources below). Aim to get this amount of calories each day. If you need to drop a few pounds, subtract the number you get by 400 and get that amount of calories each day until you drop the weight.
Step 2

Eat the right foods in addition to getting the right amount of calories. Aim for healthy foods that include good amounts of protein, fiber, fruits and vegetables, healthy whole grains, healthy fats and plenty of water.
Step 3

Exercise your mind. Read a book. Try a new recipe. Do some puzzles. These are all good ways to help increase your smarts.
Step 4

Exercise regularly. Aim for at least three 30-minute sessions a week (but more is better). I like simple exercises such as running or walking, but anything that raises the heart rate is good.
Step 5

Listen to music. Some people like to listen to classical music such as Bach or Mozart, but rock music lovers will be happy to learn that this genre can help make you smarter as well.