As it turns out, 3-year-old children who consume a diet high in processed foods are more likely to have a lower IQ by the age of 8 when compared to children who eat either a traditional meat and potatoes diet, or a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, salads, rice and pasta. A recent study tracked almost 4,000 children from age 3 to age 8 ½ to determine effects on IQ of different dietary patterns. Findings in this study reflect those of other dietary studies in children that link behavior and school performance with dietary factors.
So this week, if you know a toddler, begin sharing healthy foods with the child. The brain develops most rapidly during the first three years of life. If you can instill good eating habits at this early age, just imagine the possibilities!
You should be ashamed of yourself Brenda. You have a professional looking website, various certification letters behind your name, and yet you cite the results of research with simply “A recent study”…. oh puh-leazzze! What recent study are you citing? How was the research done? How significant were the correlations? What other mitigating factors were more significant in determining IQ… such as whether the parents read to the children on a daily basis? If you can’t provide full details on the study, the post should NEVER be on the website of a professional like you.
I’m sorry this blog struck a nerve with you. Brenda tries to keep the information she shares simple and relevant. It’s easy to get lost in the details, so she tries to convey the most important messages in the research she comes across.
I know diet and ADHD is a controversial subject, but I don’t think anyone will disagree that a healthier diet is good for children. Here are some more details for you that I hope will satisfy your interest in the subject:
The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (December 21, 2010). The population-based cohort study used parent-reported data on children’s diets with a food-frequency questionnaire at ages 3, 4, 7 and 8.5. IQ of children aged 8 was asessed using the Weschler Intelligence Scale. The data was adjusted for confounding factors. The processed diet pattern (high fat, high sugar diet) at 3 years of age was negatively associated with IQ at age 8.5–a 1.67 point IQ decrease (95 % confidence interval, p<0.0001 significance). The 'health-concious' diet pattern (salad, rice, pasta, fish, fruit) was positively associated with IQ–a 1.2 point IQ increase (95% confidence interval, p<0.001 significance). Here is a link to the study.