A new study has found that kids who eat junk food will end up with a lower IQ than those who tuck into fresh foods.
What the Study Involved
The study, which was undertaken by researchers at Goldsmiths University of London, monitored the eating habits of 4000 children aged three to five. They looked at whether the food they ate impacted their cognitive function and growth.
What the Results Found
It might seem like a no-brainer (pardon the pun) that the food we eat affects our brain performance and development. However, the study was the first of its kind to delve into how meals (and not just specific foods) impact children's IQs.
Interestingly, the researchers found that children from families with a lower socio-economic status tend to eat fattier and less healthy foods. Wealthier parents, however, tend to feed their children more wholesome home-cooked meals.
Lead researcher Dr Sophie von Stumm says this may because parents on lower incomes have less time to prepare meals and often have to resort to take-away and pre-packaged foods.
The issue is that this results in children scoring poorly on intelligence tests and battling to keep up in the classroom.
The Australian Story
An Australian study found a similar story: toddlers who eat a diet high in sweet foods and drinks grow up with a lower IQ. On the other hand, kids who eat healthily receive a mighty intelligence boost as they develop.
The University of Adelaide study discovered that junk food eaters had an IQ up to two points lower than children who ate healthier foods.
Introducing Healthier Eating
The message is clear: for children to develop into intelligent adults, they should enjoy a wide variety of fresh foods and home-cooked meals. A nutritionist can advise you on introducing healthier foods into your children's diets (especially when faced with fussy eaters!)
Originally published on Mar 12, 2014
