Improving your intellect apparently isn’t just about picking up a book and digesting the contents. A number of recent studies have revealed that a few simple day-to-day activities can lead to enhanced brainpower. So for a few more IQ points, why not work the following into your day-to-day routines…

1)      Exercise

A recent study by Cambridge University  has revealed that brain capacity improves if you go for a run a couple of times a week. The study showed a significant amount of new brain cells forming in the brains of those who had been running for just a couple of days, proving the long held belief that exercise boosts intellect. The cells were forming in the areas of the brain that deal with creating and recollecting memories. Memory affects a large amount of brain activity and therefore increased productivity in this area can have many beneficial effects. It can even help combat the deterioration of memory in old age.

Vigorous exercise also helps release a protein in the brain called ‘noggin’, which acts as a counter-agent to bone morphogenetic – another protein found in the brain. This means brain stem cells divide at a faster rate, which keeps the brain young. This also helps to combat mental deterioration at an older age.

2)      Music

Brain health charity Mind conducted a study recently that revealed that listening to music helps stimulate the mind. When listening to a song you love, the brain releases the neurotransmitter dopamine at a 9% higher rate.  Dopamine is the ultimate good-mood-creator, enhancing wellbeing and improving people’s mental outlook. Mind suggest that more people use music to boost their mood at work, which will ultimately improve productivity in the office.

3)      Sex

Many health professionals have indicated that sex improves your intellect! According to a book written by Simon Wootton and Terry Horne, those who find love  and have regular sex start-up thought processes that relieve stress and stimulate the brain, helping battle mental aging disorders such as Alzheimer’s. 

4)      Afternoon Naps

Having an afternoon nap  also apparently boosts brainpower. Recent research has shown that having a short kip in the afternoon increases the brain’s ability to learn new facts and master new tasks. In this time-out, the brain has a chance to regenerate and file away the memories already processed that day, meaning that new information can be more easily remembered.

5)      Sunbathing

Finally, sunbathing has been proved to increase the mind’s powers. The vitamin D generated from spending time in the sun has been shown to activate the brain, keeping it in top condition as we age. According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, this vitamin helps people process information at a much faster rate. Vitamin D can also be found in many types of oily fish and in Ginkgo Biloba, the notoriously brain-boosting plant.

So, whether you’re meeting people via Internet dating sites , scheduling an afternoon nap every day or starting to eat oily fish, all of these will help boost your brainpower!