Processed, fatty foods may dumb down kids

[Guest guest]

We all know that eating lots of processed, fatty foods isn’t good for our bodies

because of the high sugar, sodium or fat content. But now it looks like these

foods actually make children dumber.

British researchers say a recent study has indicated that feeding children lots

of fatty, sugary and processed foods may lower their IQ, but diets rich in

vitamins and nutrient seem to boost it. So when we’re feeding our children bad

diets, we’re not only harming their bodies but also negatively affecting brain

growth and performance and function.

That’s pretty serious.

The University of Bristol researchers said this is particularly true during the

first three years of life when the brain is developing rapidly, according to

MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. They conjecture

that good nutrition promotes brain growth and cognitive development.

For the study, the team collected data on nearly 4,000 children born in 1991

and 1992 from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Their parents

had answered questions about their kids’ diet at ages 3, 4, 7 and 8.5 years.

Their IQs were measured when they were 8.5 years old.

Children who ate a diet high in processed foods at age 3 had a lower IQ at 8.5

years than kids with the healthy diet. For every one-point increase in processed

foods consumption, they lost 1.67 points in IQ. Every one-point increase in a

“health conscious” diet with lots of fruit, vegetables, salads, fish, rich and

pasta translated into a 1.2-point increase in IQ.

The key was the diet at age 3, since the diet at age 4 and 7 didn’t seem to

have an effect on IQ.

Researchers said further study is needed to really understand the effect of

diet on children’s intelligence. But this seems to be good evidence that a diet

rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, rice and pasta is the way to go, especially

for children. Of course, that type of diet is healthy for adults, too.