[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter\/","headline":"How To Use Nutrition To Make You Smarter","name":"How To Use Nutrition To Make You Smarter","description":"You\u2019ve probably heard of the concept of \u201cbrain food\u201d. Foods you can eat which will make you smarter, or help your memory. But is there anything to this? We\u2019re the Edison...","datePublished":"2021-04-08","dateModified":"2026-01-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/#Person","name":"Marlene","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Edison Institute of Nutrition","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter-1.jpg","height":630,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter\/","about":["Articles","Healthy Eating","Nutrition Science"],"wordCount":1264,"articleBody":"You\u2019ve probably heard of the concept of \u201cbrain food\u201d.Foods you can eat which will make you smarter, or help your memory.But is there anything to this?We\u2019re the Edison Institute, a school for registered holistic nutrition, and we want to help shed some light on foods which can help you boost your brain power.Keep reading to learn what to eat to help improve your memory.What Is Intelligence?Intelligence can be a different concept to wrap your head around because it can encompass a number of factors.Some of the ways in which it has been defined include:The ability to learnEmotional knowledge and self-awarenessThe ability to adapt to new and changing situationsProblem solving skills and the capacity for logic and critical thinkingRobert Sternberg, a psychologist at Yale University, defined it on the Semantic Scholar in an artilce called: \u201cTowards a Critical Pedagogy of Forest Intelligence. Introducing the Forest Art Intelligence (FAI) Project\u201d; \u201cthe mental abilities necessary for adaptation to, as well as shaping and selection of, any environmental context\u201d.Theories Of IntelligenceThere are a variety of theories of intelligence.Some claim it is inherited, while others say it is a result of one\u2019s environment (realistically, it\u2019s likely a combination of both).There are those who claim intelligence is a general ability and others who say it is comprised of a variety of talents and skills.In this section, we\u2019ll have a look at a few different ways to view intelligence.Spearman\u2019s General IntelligenceThis theory, put forth by Charles Spearman, an English psychologist, said in an article published on the VeryWell Mind\u2009\u2014\u2009\u201cHow General Intelligence (G Factor) Is Determined\u201d general intelligence refers to the mental ability for a variety of specific skills, including:Verbal abilitiesSpatial reasoning skillsMechanical skillsNumerical abilitiesSpearman noted those who typically did well in one test of these areas also tended to score well in other areas, and attributed this to a strong general intelligence.Gardner\u2019s Multiple IntelligencesIn the article \u201cGardner\u2019s Theory of Multiple Intelligences\u201d Gardner proposes the idea of multiple forms of intelligence which each represent skills relevant to their specific category.These categories include:Spatial intelligenceLinguistic intelligenceIntra-personal intelligenceInterpersonal intelligenceLogic\/mathematical intelligenceMusical intelligenceBodily\/kinesthetic intelligenceNaturalistThurstone\u2019s Primary Mental AbilitiesThis theory says there are seven primary mental abilities which make up intelligence. The published article can be found on the American Psycological Association jourals, under title: \u201cThurstone\u2019s primary mental abilities and structure-of-intellect abilities.\u201dThese abilities include:Inductive Reasoning: The ability to form rules and principles when given generalized informationWord Fluency: Being able to use words for tasks including solving puzzles, or rhymingMemory: Being able to recollect information, for instance, formulas, lists, or definitionsVerbal Comprehension: Understanding words, ideas, and conceptsPerceptual speed: Being able to grasp detailsNumerical ability: Use of numbers to find answers to problemsSpatial visualization: Ability to visualize patterns in spaceHow To Use Nutrition To Make You SmarterNo matter which theory of intelligence you subscribe to, there are things you can do to help improve your brainpower.The foods you eat can have a big impact on your brain function.You might try to avoid processed foods and sugar when you need to be sharp for a presentation, and we all know the impacts of alcohol on the cognitive process.But food can also be used to help improve your mind as well.Keep reading to learn about what to add to your diet which might just help you ace your next test or be better prepared for your next big meeting.1. SalmonThere\u2019s nothing fishy about it, wild caught salmon is a great food for helping you boost your brain.It\u2019s full of omega\u20113 fatty acids, which are super important for brain health.A 2014 study in the journal Human Psychopharmacology found omega\u20113\u2019s helped young adults achieve better cognitive performance.Another 2019 study came to the conclusion omega 3\u2019s can help protect against cognitive decline in the elderly.Omega\u20113\u2019s have a wide variety of other benefits, including everything from staving off depression to reducing seasonal allergies to helping maintain healthy eyes and healthy hair.2. BlueberriesBerries in general are great for your brain, thanks to their high concentration of antioxidants.Blueberries in particular are especially high in antioxidants, while also being low in calories.Antioxidants protect cells against damage caused by free radicals.Antioxidants have also been shown to have anti cancer properties and can help with anti aging as well.3. Cayenne PepperIf you like to spice up your meals, then reach for some cayenne pepper, and do your brain a favour at the same time.A 2020 study found diets rich in capsaicin, a key component of cayenne pepper, played a role in preventing cognitive decline.Capsaicin has other benefits as well, including helping with weight loss, improving circulation, and relieving heartburn.4. AvocadosYou may know avocados as a delicious way to get a serving of \u201cgood fats\u201d, but they\u2019re so much more than that.They contain 20 different vitamins and nutrients, and even help improve blood flow to the brain.A 2017 study in the journal Nutrients looked at the effects of avocados on cognition.It was found they had a positive impact on cognitive health, and it was suggested that adding avocados to one\u2019s diet could be an effective way to improve cognitive health in aging populations.5. Dark ChocolateIf you like a sweet treat, then you can enjoy some flavanol rich dark chocolate while also boosting your brainpower.A study in the journal Foods notes these flavonoids help improve cognition, and have beneficial effects on memory.6. Leafy GreensYou\u2019ve heard spinach will help you build strong muscles, just like Popeye, but did you know it, and other leafy greens such as kale and broccoli are good for your brain as well?They are rich in iron, which plays a key role in ensuring oxygen gets transported throughout the body.Without iron to help your red blood cells carry oxygen, you may feel fatigued and experience brain fog.7. WalnutsWalnuts are such great brain food that they even look like little brains themselves!They have a high amount of omega\u20113\u2019s, which in general are good for your brain as we mentioned previously.But they\u2019re particularly high in a type of omega\u20113 called DHA \u2013 or docosahexaenoic acid.You can see why the acronym is nice for that one.DHA has been shown to improve cognitive performance, prevent age-related cognitive decline, and help with brain development in children.Contact The Edison Institute Of Nutrition TodayIt\u2019s amazing the effects eating certain foods can have on our minds, and our bodies.From the brain boosters we listed here, to the foods needed to keep our bodies functioning at peak performance.Registered holistic nutritionists work with their clients to help them identity gaps in their nutrition which are affecting their health, and creates plans to help them close those gaps.At the Edison Institute of Nutrition we\u2019ll help you learn about helping your clients address nutrient deficiencies, and more,Contact us today, to learn more about our programs, and to determine if it\u2019s the right fit for you."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"How To Use Nutrition To Make You Smarter","item":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/how-to-use-nutrition-to-make-you-smarter\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]