(The Best Years in Life) It has long been thought that a person's IQ remains fairly stable from very early in life. However, new studies have found just the opposite, indicating that IQ can be increased by as much as 20% or more with proper diet, lifestyle, mental exercises and more.

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. Contrary to common misconception, IQ does not measure a person’s actual intelligence, but rather is a measurement of one's problem solving abilities.

In a new study just published this month in the journal Nature, researchers found that during adolescence, a fifth of children can gain or lose as many as 20 points in IQ. The study, “Verbal and non-verbal intelligence changes in the teenage brain”, also found that IQ improvement corresponded to actual structural changes in the brain. Children who had an increase in IQ during adolescence also had an increase in the density and volume of gray matter in the brain.

Study co-author Sue Ramsden likened the brain changes to changes in a child's physical fitness over the teenage years. For example, a couch-potato kid may join a sports team and be athletic several years later. Ramsden said the results indicate that “a late developer can catch up.”

Other studies have indicated that IQ can also be improved in adults. In 2008, a study was published which was pretty much a game changer for research on IQ. The study, titled “Building Fluid Intelligence with Training on Working Memory” demonstrated that it might actually be possible to increase IQ to a significant degree through training.

Learning and exercising the brain are major ways to increase IQ. Reading and practicing activities that improve one’s mental abilities will increase ones mental abilities. This can be as simple as solving puzzles, reading stimulating books, learning a new language or learning how to perform a new task. Some other suggestions for having better brain function are:

*Lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly
*Get plenty of sunshine and natural vitamin D3
*Have an active social life
*Get involved in new activities and hobbies
*Writing - including writing with your opposite hand
*Avoid and manage stress
*Minimize television watching
*Play challenging video games (but don’t neglect social life and physical activity)
*Don’t smoke
*Drink in moderation
*Eat wholesome nutrient-dense foods
*Avoid refined sugar and typical SADS food items such as processed foods, fast foods, etc.
*Avoid drinking water with fluoride
*Avoid vaccinations and other mainstream drugs

Nutrition can be vital in increasing IQ and maintaining healthy brain function. Just like other organs, the brain needs proper nutrition to develop and function properly. Brains performance may be greatly improved through eating the right kinds of foods as well as supplementing to help address any deficiencies which may be affecting thinking ability and behavior.

Some of the best brain boosting foods are:

*Salmon and other fatty cold water fish
*Organic free range beef, chicken and turkey
*Organic free range eggs
*Caffeine (but don’t overdo it, as excess caffeine can over-stimulate the adrenal glands).
*Berries, especially blueberries (and don't forget mulberries)
*Dark grapes (preferably seeded)
*Beets
*Dark green leafy vegetables such as baby spinach
*Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
*Carrots
*Endame
*Citrus fruits
*Organic yoghurt
*Legumes
*Avocado
*Curry
*Olive Oil
*Turmeric
*Apples
*Green Tea
*Barley
*Nuts

Supplements can help address nutritional deficiencies boost brain performance. Two of the best brain boosting supplements are colloidal gold and phosphatidyl serine (PS). Studies have shown that supplementing with colloidal gold can result in IQ increases of 20% or more and that PS increases lucidity and the rate of learning.

Other brain boosting supplements include:

*Magnesium
*Super foods powders
*Creatine
*Zinc
*Vitamin C
*Vitamin E
*Alpha-lipoic acid
*Inositol
*Folic acid
*Ginkgo Biloba
*Saint John's Wort

Note: As the first study mentioned above found, IQ can also decline just as much as it can improve – yet another good reason to follow this article’s advice.

See also:

10 Easy and Natural Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

New study finds beetroot juice promotes brain health in older adults

Blueberries Improve Memory, Slow Aging and Much More

Boost Your Body and Mind with Magnesium

Sources included:

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2011/10/intelligence_quotient_or_iq_te.html
http://www.science20.com/news_releases/training_can_improve_iq_after_all_study
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/03/07/you-can-increase-your-intelligence-5-ways-to-maximize-your-cognitive-potential/
http://www.tbyil.com/Ten_Brain_Tips.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-IQ
http://jdmurrah.hubpages.com/hub/Ways-to-increase-IQ
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-simple-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-intelligence/
http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/healthy_aging/eat_for_a_sharper_mind_5_brain_boosting_foods
http://www.tipsonhealthyliving.com/diet-and-fitness/try-these-17-brain-boosting-foods
http://www.lombardipublishing.com/ads/brainboostingfoods/top-12-brain-boosting-foods.pdf
http://www.geniusintelligence.com/nutritionmod.htm
http://www.biophysica.com/gold.html
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10514.html