A good reason to celebrate World Vegetarian Day on October 1st: A British study concludes that vegetarianism is the choice of intelligent people.

The British Medical Journal published a study by the University of Southampton in England. The university selected a sample of children from 20 years ago, who had taken an IQ test and merited very high IQ scores.

The now 30-year-old adults were asked survey questions about career, finances, civil status, and lifestyle. Only 4.5% of the respondents said that they followed a vegetarian diet, but on closer inspection, the vegetarians had an average IQ that was higher by 5 points than the average
of the non-vegetarians. The study also found no difference in the IQ scores between vegetarians and vegans.

What is still open for discussion, however, is whether vegetarianism itself leads to a higher IQ, or if intelligent people are more likely to become vegetarians. Many intelligent people may become vegetarians because they are better informed about the health benefits of vegetarianism, or they are more active in practising environmental awareness and the protection of animal rights.

By eliminating the consumption of meat and animal products, vegetarian diets generally tend to be lower in fat and cholesterol, but at the same time, they miss out on certain nutrients that the brain also needs.

Advantages for meat-eaters

Are the differences between vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets enough to influence one's intellectual performance? It's no secret that fruits and vegetables provide nutrients, especially antioxidants, that the brain and body need.

In the favour of meat-eaters, red meat contains a type of iron that is better absorbed by the body than the iron that can be found in vegetables. Iron is beneficial for memory, learning, and concentration; iron deficiency can lead to poor learning and memory.

A lack of protein is the common argument against vegetarianism. Protein helps in the production of neurotransmitters, which facilitate how the brain functions. On the other hand, nutritional supplements and fortified food products can provide missing nutrients to those who follow restrictive diets.

For those who wish to improve their intelligence through food, becoming a vegetarian does not mean that one will immediately become smarter. Simply eating a healthy and balanced diet can contribute to the brain's performance, which in turn will provide the resources and energy to do the mental activities that boost IQ levels.

http://tests.msn.co.nz/mag/vegetarian-1.asp?v=