3 Simple Ways You Can Boost Your IQ

Jun 19, 2018 by apost team

To give your brain a boost, you don't need to resort to drastic measures. A few simple modifications to your daily habits may be enough to raise your IQ. Ahead, learn more about the best ways to increase your brainpower.

Everyone knows that exercise is good for the body, but did you know it's also good for the mind? When you work out, your body responds by producing key neurotransmitters, which improve mood and cognitive health. Cardiovascular exercise is particularly good for the brain, and it can lead to improved memory and increased attention span.

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While you may not have devoted much thought to the impact fatty foods and high-calorie sweets have on your brain health, you can probably guess that eating unhealthy foods doesn't make you smarter. There are foods that do, however, and they're all a key part of the Mediterranean diet. This diet, which is often prescribed for seniors who want to ward off Alzheimer's, is specifically designed to promote cognitive wellness. It advocates lean proteins, fruits and veggies, whole grain carbohydrates, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The more you use your brain, the more powerful it becomes. Every time you do a Sudoko puzzle or win at Scrabble, it's like your brain stores away a battery charge. If you think of your brain as a battery-powered organ, it's easy to see why you should keep it fully powered. Instead of wasting your time on a social media website or watching a sitcom episode you've already seen, try feeding your brain. Read a book on a subject you know nothing about, or start learning French. Skills that require your brain to work in multiple ways at once are a great way to charge up the brain. Learning to play the violin is an example of such a skill—to play competently, you need to decode musical notation and use motor skills to hit the correct notes.

Over time, this mental reserve builds up. You'll have brainpower to draw on as you age—which can be crucial to your quality of life. For example, one study conducted on Alzheimer's patients showed that seniors who had led an active cognitive life were able to draw on their brain reserve for a long time after their brain began to atrophy due to dementia. They maintained their cognitive faculties so fully that many of them weren't diagnosed for years. If you want to have a brain reserve to draw on, keep your mind active—via playing brainteasers, learning new skills, and maintaining a sense of curiosity.

Do you want to improve your IQ? Do you have favorite brain games, apps, or books? Let us know in the comment section and pass these simple trick on to your friends and loved ones.