Young children who are fed a healthy diet rich in foods, such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables, have slightly higher IQs compared to toddlers who consume a diet high in snack foods, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide investigated the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and 2 years, and their IQ at 8 years. The study of more than 7,000 children compared a range of dietary patterns, including traditional and contemporary home-prepared food, ready-prepared baby foods, breastfeeding, and 'discretionary' or snack foods.
"Diet supplies the nutrients needed for the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life, and the aim of this study was to look at what impact diet would have on children's IQs," the researchers said.
They found children who were breastfed at six months and had a healthy diet regularly, including legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 months and 24 months had an IQ up to 2 points higher by age 8. Children who had a diet regularly involving cookies, chocolate, candy, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to 2 points lower by age 8.
"While the differences in IQ are not huge, this study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that dietary patterns from six to 24 months have a small but significant effect on IQ at eight years of age," the researchers added. "It is important that we consider the longer-term impact of the foods we feed our children."
Researchers at the University of Adelaide investigated the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and 2 years, and their IQ at 8 years. The study of more than 7,000 children compared a range of dietary patterns, including traditional and contemporary home-prepared food, ready-prepared baby foods, breastfeeding, and 'discretionary' or snack foods.
"Diet supplies the nutrients needed for the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life, and the aim of this study was to look at what impact diet would have on children's IQs," the researchers said.
They found children who were breastfed at six months and had a healthy diet regularly, including legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 months and 24 months had an IQ up to 2 points higher by age 8. Children who had a diet regularly involving cookies, chocolate, candy, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to 2 points lower by age 8.
"While the differences in IQ are not huge, this study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that dietary patterns from six to 24 months have a small but significant effect on IQ at eight years of age," the researchers added. "It is important that we consider the longer-term impact of the foods we feed our children."
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