Understanding IQ
IQ is acronym for intelligence quotient.
An intelligence quotient measures a person’s ability to reason and solve problems. IQ tests are tools that help to measure a person’s actual potential and intellectual abilities. IQ tests reflect cognitive skills such as problem-solving, logic, and reasoning.
IQ is a test of intelligence. Everyone is born with intelligence. It is not a test of knowledge. Knowledge represents what you’ve learned through life experience or education.
To know your IQ, you must take a standardized test supervised by a trained professional. There are hundreds of IQ tests available online. They might be entertaining, but the results are not valid.
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What is metabolism?
It is worth noting that your IQ score does not exist in isolation. Your IQ score represents how your results compare to others within your age range.
An IQ score of 116 or more is above average. A score of over 130 indicates a high IQ. To be a member of Mensa, the High IQ society, your IQ should exceed 130 (usually people who score in the top two percent).
There are at least four mineral deficiencies that can significantly affect your IQ. We will discuss them in this article.
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Top mineral deficiencies that lower IQ
Let’s consider the nutrient part of your intelligence.
1. Iodine
Iodine is one of the most effective trace minerals on it. Generally, your body may not need a lot of it, but you need a little bit of it, and if you don’t have that little bit, you’re going to be in big trouble because if you’re deficient in iodine during childhood, your IQ is going to go down significantly. Iodine is best taken when the woman is pregnant as well as when they are breastfeeding.
Many people don’t know that iodine is involved in brain creation. However, certain parts of the brain, like the hippocampus, which is involved with memory, learning, navigating yourself, and the frontal lobe, depend on iodine.
2. Zinc
The second most important mineral is zinc. Zinc is involved in hundreds of different enzyme reactions. It is involved with the hippocampus. It involves neurotransmitter production; your IQ decreases if you are low on zinc.
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3. Copper
It is important to note that zinc correlates with copper. They both work together, so you need this zinc to copper ratio. If you have autistic children, for example, there are nearly always deficient zinc and copper levels. But there is a robust correlation between a high IQ and good zinc to copper ratio.
Copper is also low in Alzheimer’s disease. It is also super-concentrated in the locus Aurelius. This is a structure in your brainstem which plays a vital role in your sleep.
4. Magnesium
Magnesium is needed for making ATP in the brain. Therefore, if you are deficient in magnesium, then there is a high chance that you will have a low IQ.
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The best foods to boost your IQ
The best foods for your IQ are:
· Seafood
· Shellfish
· Leafy greens
· Vegetables
· Nuts
Oily fish are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help build membranes around each cell in the body, including the brain cells. They can, therefore, improve the structure of brain cells called neurons.
A 2017 study found that people with high levels of omega-3s had increased blood flow in the brain. The researchers also identified a connection between omega-3 levels and better cognition or thinking abilities.
These results suggest that eating foods rich in omega-3s, such as oily fish, may boost brain function.
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Examples of oily fish that contain high levels of omega-3s include:
- salmon
- mackerel
- tuna
- herring
- sardines
People can also get omega-3s from soybeans, nuts, flaxseed, and other seeds. Broccoli is a low-calorie source of dietary fiber, but it is also good for the brain. Broccoli contains glucosinolates. This is because the body breaks glucosinolates into isothiocyanates. These isothiocyanates may reduce oxidative stress and lower your risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition, broccoli contains flavonoids and vitamin C. both are antioxidants and can help boost the brain’s health.
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Other leafy greens that contain glucosinolates include:
· kale
· turnips
· cauliflower
· cabbage
· bok soy
· brussels sprouts
Peanuts are a legume with an excellent nutritional profile. They contain plenty of unsaturated fats and protein to keep a person’s energy levels up throughout the day.
Peanuts also provide vital vitamins and minerals to keep the brain healthy, including high levels of vitamin E and resveratrol.
Resveratrol is a natural non-flavonoid antioxidant found in peanuts, mulberries, and rhubarb.
Evidence from a review article suggests that resveratrol can have protective effects, such as helping to prevent cancers, inflammation, and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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Deficiencies associated with low IQ
Vitamin D deficiency is correlated with learning disabilities, lower IQ, and cognitive function.
Iron also correlates with a lower IQ. It is probably because it is involved with anemia and red blood cells and carries oxygen to your brain.
How sugar affects cognitive function
What’s the effect of sugar on cognitive function?
The problem with sugar is that it makes you STUPID. Yes!
Sugar correlates with a lower IQ. It is essential to understand that just because someone has a high IQ doesn’t mean they are sane. They can be brilliant, but this doesn’t translate into sanity. Insanity here means being destructive. We’re talking about sugar and diabetes.
So, let’s assume that your a1c is above seven mmol, and your ability to recall things becomes significantly affected. People with diabetes, on average, have a lower IQ than 7.84 points. This is because high blood sugar causes shrinkage of the hippocampus, resulting in less memory and learning capacity, intimately connected with IQ.
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How keto affects cognitive function
The brain needs alternative fuel to bypass all the negative things that happen when there’s too much sugar in the blood and also get the energy the neurons need to have more intelligence. That alternative fuel is known as ketones.
The exciting thing about ketones is that your brain is the organ that does not have to adapt to ketones like other parts of the body. Your brain can use ketones immediately if it’s in the blood. There’s not a lot of stored sugar in the brain.
The brain does not store glycogen because when you store glycogen, you have to store a lot of water, and there’s just no space for that. As such, the brain depends on the blood for its energy. That usually comes from your liver, so if your liver is damaged, that can affect the brain.
It is worth noting that your brain has a choice between ketones or glucose. But it will always pick ketones as a primary fuel, and in that way, even if there is some damage to the cells, the brain cells will always get energy.
In other words, your brain is very vulnerable to the kind of diet you eat. Two things determine the presence or absence of ketones in your blood:
· glucose
· insulin levels
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Takeaway
Shellfish, seafood, and a big salad are suitable for the brain. Cut the sugar out and go on a low-carb diet. When your body is in a ketogenic state, you are healthier. As always, consult your doctor before going on any diet. There may be some contraindications with your prescriptions.
Have you ever tried a ketogenic diet?
Did you notice any improvement in things like concentration and focus?
Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.
