Iron is a carrier of oxygen to the brain and is used to make brain neurotransmitters, which regulate a person?s ability to pay attention. As a result, there is a direct correlation between iron levels and an individuals intelligence quotient (iq) levels. Increasing one?s intake of foods such as lentils, sesame seeds, figs, almonds, red kidney beans and dark green vegetables can be a student?s ticket to higher alertness.