Simple changes in your daily routine can prove to be a vital factor in transforming your brain into the brain of a true genius. Throughout this topic I will be exploring the effects that a healthy diet, caffeine, exercise, and sleep have on your brain, and how to use them to your advantage in boosting your brain power and increasing your IQ.

Feeding the Brain

However hard it may be to keep up, a healthy diet undoubtedly has a great effect on your health and fitness, but this is also the case with the power of your brain. Oily fish such as mackerel, herring, tuna and sardines not only have the benefit of adding omega-3 into your system and essential fatty acids, but they also have a positive effect on your brain. Oily fish contain nutrients which promote cell growth and repair in the body as well as in the brain, and when included into a healthy balanced diet, a positive outcome is inevitable.

Fruit and vegetables are often not a popular choice with the kids, but are an important dietary essential for people of all ages. The vitamins and minerals contained in fruit and vegetables are thought to help transmitions in the brain and are especially used for maintaining electrical signals throughout. Fruit and vegetables also have a high water content, hydrating the body and maintaining the fluids in your brain. In fact, a high perentage of headaches are caused by dehydration. How can you think straigt if you've got a pounding headache?

Stay away from saturated fats. It is well known that fats in their saturated form can be potentially hazardous for the heart, and in exessive quantities can lead to coronory heart disease as a result of a build up of cholesterol. However, it is a little known fact that an excess intake of saturated fats can lead to Alzheier's disease, a devistating condition which results in loss of memory and reasoning, often leaving sufferers unable to care for themselves. While research is still under way, it is worth noting this possible link. A simple move to reduce your saturated fat intake would be to opt for low fat dairy products such as skimmed and semi-skimmed milk instead of their high-fat alternatives.

Effects of Caffeine

As we all know, caffeine is a stimulant which hightens our alertness, reaction time, and ability to think on the ball. However, excess intake can lead to anxiety and depression as well as sleep problems. You can however use caffeine to your advantage by making sure that you only drink coffee or whatever form you take it in, when you need it, and make sure that you don't make a habit of consuming caffeine when you don't really need it. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are often unplesent though, and it would be un-wize to simply stop drinking coffee or whatever after having kept up a routine over a long period of time.

Exercise

Regular exercise is a definite plus for the brain. Keeping your blood pumping ensures excellent circulatoin to the brain but also, sports such as tennis or hockey improve hand-eye coordination. As well as this, exercise has the effect of increasing the growth of brain cells which is great for improving your brain power and boosting those IQ scores!

Sleep

Sleep is a time for the brain to organize it's thoughts and remove all the clutter. A clear mind is essential for a new day, and quality sleep is necessary to acheive this. As common sense would suggest, caffeine before bed would not be a good idea, and exercise in the hours before going to sleep can have a detrimental effect. Based on their individual timetables, everyone has their own required sleep duration, but it is best to get as much sleep as possible within your respective timetable, while not oversleeping, to clear your mind and prepare you for the next day ahead. Eight hours is the average amount of sleep that most people need.

Through this article I hope that I have shed some light on new ways for you to benefit from changes in your daily routine in a way that will help to improve your IQ dramatically. If you make even a few of changes which I have explained you will find that the road to increased brain power is just around the corner. Important - Please note that I am not an expert in the fields I have covered through this article, and it would be unwize to follow any of my advice if you have any doubts at all. Best consult a nutritionist, doctor or someone qualified to tell you what's best for you when thinking about major changes in your diet, or if you have any doubts whatsoever.