7 ways you may be ruining your IQ

Experts say, everything from technology to our eating habits are corroding our brains

Experts claim that everything from the use of technology to our eating habits are corroding our brains, making us slower and less capable of original thought.

In a recent study, the University of Montreal revealed the ruining effects of various activities on our IQ. Read here to find out how you may be damaging your intelligence:

1) Saturated fats

PHOTO: HUFFINGTON POST

Consuming large amounts of saturated fats hinder the brains dopamine function which is responsible for motivation. Studies reveal that a diet high in fats damages the brains cognitive flexibility, slowing reactions, damaging memory and setting off feelings of depression.

Some of the foods high in saturated fat include fatty beef, lamb, poultry with skin, cream, butter, cheese and gravies.

2) Multi-tasking

PHOTO: HUFFINGTON POST

Who would have thought that multi-tasking could corrode our brain? According to Earl Miller, an expert on divided attention and a neuroscientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the brain is not wired to multitask.

"When people think they’re multitasking, they’re actually just switching from one task to another very rapidly and every time they do, there’s a cognitive cost.”

“Multitasking prevents deep, creative thought as we switch back and forth, backtracking, constantly starting from scratch each time. As a result, thoughts are less new and more superficial,” she revealed. She upheld that multi-tasking prevents clear thought.

3) Google fervour

PHOTO: DAILYGENIUS

Continuous access to information on the web can be a neurological jinx. While searching up items on Google does not affect our IQ directly, reliance on Google for information means we no longer depend on our memory the same way.

PHOTO: EXAMINEDEXISTENCE

Too much fructose which is a sugar obtained from plants and fruits slows the brain, according to a 2012 UCLA study.

Dr Sarah Brewer, a medical nutritionist, warns of the damage sugary foods can do, “Brain cells need glucose to function but too much in a short time will cause a sugar rush and make you feel over-wired.”

On the other hand, eating omega -3 fatty acids can neutralise this effect by protecting against the damage to the chemical pathways in the brain.

5) Jet lag and other night-time disturbances

PHOTO: HELLOTRAVEL

Blunting effects of jet lag and night-time sleep disturbances can last for weeks. A study done on hamsters found that regular disruptions to our day-night pattern effects the area of the brain that deals with memory processing and the effects can last up to a month after the last disturbance.

Professor Lance Kriegsfeld from the University of California at Berkeley said, “What this says is that, whether you are a flight attendant, medical resident, or rotating shift worker, repeated disruption of circadian rhythms is likely going to have a long-term impact on your cognitive behavior and function.”

Read: 5 fast and effective ways to overcome jet lag

6) Binge-watching reality TV series

PHOTO: LIVINGCIVIL

While it is still not conclusive, an Austrian study revealed that participants after watching a reality TV series performed worse on a  general knowledge test  in comparison with those who had not watched the show.

Another psychologist, Joanne Cantor, said, “What you’ve been thinking about recently or seeing recently [is] at a higher level in your consciousness, so your brain is kind of predisposed in that direction.”

7) Chewing gum and walking

PHOTO: REDDIT

Chewing gum distracts people from short term memory tasks such as retaining the order of items on a list suggests a recent study.

Dr Sarah Brewer said, “When people chew gum for hours it may cause a problem with distraction. As soon as the flavour goes I’d recommend taking it out."

The article originally appeared on Telegraph.