The Potential for Intelligence is Inherited

A unique brain-imaging study¹ of identical twins and fraternal twins has shown that genes have a profound influence on the integrity of nerve cell connections, resulting in faster processing speed and potential for intelligence. The study identified that the health of the myelin sheathing of nerves was a key sign of brain health.

The first thing to understand about genes is that they are not written in stone. Even someone with potentially weaker genes can have their gene switches optimized with nutrition for maximum benefit. There is no question that the “hardware” that forms this computer is established primarily during pregnancy and the first few years of life. This is a critical time for intelligence optimization.

Various nutrients are required for healthy brain development during pregnancy. These include iodine, iron, zinc, B vitamins, DHA, and high quality sulfur-containing proteins. A lack of any of them reduces the potential to set gene patterns for optimal brain development.

This new research is helpful as it points out that the formation of myelin sheathing around the nerves is of significant and particular importance. The myelin sheathing is a phospholipid-rich cell membrane structure. This means you need nutrients that make phospholipids in plentiful amounts in order to facilitate the formation of these important coatings on the “nerve wires.”

The best nutrients for this purpose are DHA, phosphatidylserine, calcium AEP and fat-soluble antioxidants that protect phospholipid structures from damage (tocotrienols, R-alpha lipoic acid, Q10, carotenes).

The enemies to intelligence come under the category of toxins, infections, and stress – both during and following pregnancy and in early childhood.

Fat-soluble toxins are a major problem to brain myelin sheathing. These toxins are in the air pollution of any major city and in non-organic produce and food. This means any pregnant woman or child should avoid concentrations of pollution (heavy traffic, problematic areas of a city) and should eat better quality food.

Fat-soluble toxins can also be produced by imbalanced Candida albicans, meaning that if a mom has digestive problems or sinus problems and feels tired, irritable, and spacey (brain fog), then she may well be suffering from an overload of the fat-soluble acetaldehyde toxin, which is a metabolic byproduct of Candida. This fat-soluble toxin can damage myelin, and is the same toxin produced by alcohol. Such fat-soluble toxins readily cross the placenta and influence the health of evolving nerves. Zinc offers protection and pantethine helps clear acetyaldehyde.

Stress is another big factor that can generate a lot of free radicals that can damage nerve cells.

Of course, once the child is born these issues remain the same. Children who eat a better diet and are well nourished will continue to build better brain health that will last a lifetime. The stability of the home environment (less stress in front of children) is also very important.