An Amino Acid for Creativity

 When you’re looking for a boost to amp up your creativity, it’s easy to start off with the usual nootropics (and, more often than not, that common nootropic usually an arm’s length away: coffee).  However, creativity may start off more with the foundations of your diet, instead of things you add in to supplement it. Discover the transformative potential of an amino acid believed to fuel creativity, unlocking innovative pathways in cognitive exploration.

                According to new research from cognitive psychologists, some of the nutrients and neurotransmitter building blocks that are in fruit and almonds may have a key role in boosting creativity.  Some proponents of the all-fruit diet believe that consuming an all-fruit diet gives you access to levels of unparalleled nutrients and vitamins which makes all the difference for their enhanced cognitive processing.  Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, was one of these people who believed that being a fruitarian gave him the ability to think outside the box and innovate some of the more complex facets of technology.

                So, what exactly is in fruits and almonds that may hold the key to boosting creativity?  Higher tyrosine levels, a common amino acid, are believed to boost dopamine production in the brain, according to researchers. Along with fruit, tyrosine can be found in eggs, spinach, soybeans, and cottage cheese. 

Tyrosine Boosts Creativity

                Researchers added tyrosine to orange juice, testing participants’ puzzle-solving with divergent and convergent thinking. In the second part of the experiment, researchers administered orange juice without tyrosine to the participants. Creative thinking splits into divergent (multiple uses for an object) and convergent (complex word connections) approaches.

                The participants who drank the juice with added tyrosine solved puzzles better than those who drank the orange juice alone.  Consuming fruits like peaches, bananas, and almonds, rich in tyrosine, may provide a cognitive boost for fruit enthusiasts. Tyrosine-rich foods include meat, tofu, cheese, whole grains, beans, and nuts, ensuring accessibility across various dietary preferences. Tyrosine supplements ensure adequate intake, providing building blocks for dopamine and adrenaline, enhancing cognitive flexibility.

Further Reading

Lorenza S. Colzato, Annelies M. de Haan, Bernhard Hommel. Food for creativity: tyrosine promotes deep thinking. Psychological Research, 2014; DOI: 10.1007/s00426-014-0610-4

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