Incredible facts
If your children have problems with school performance, don't blame them for being negligent: it may be your own fault. Malnutrition, consisting of foods rich in fat and processed sugar, reduces the level of mental development in children, while eating foods, rich in vitamins and nutrients, increases IQ in children.
Scientists came to this conclusion after analyzing data on 14,000 children born in 1991 and 1992. The parents of these children filled out questionnaires regarding the type of food and the frequency of meals their children ate when the children were 3, 4, 7 and 8.5 years old.
The researchers divided all types of food into 3 types:
– eating processed foods, that is, high in sugar and fat;
– traditional diet, that is, frequent consumption of meat and vegetables;
– and a healthy diet consisting of salads, fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta.
Children took a standard IQ test at the age of 8.5, but scientists obtained complete data on only 4,000 children out of 14,000.
How to eat
When analyzing the data obtained, the researchers also took into account some additional factors. Overall, the results showed that children aged 8.5 years, whose diet was dominated by high-fat foods (that is, processed foods) before the age of 3 years, had a mental level development was lower than that of children whose parents adhered to a healthy diet. The diet patterns of children aged 4 to 7 did not have any effect on IQ levels.
Scientists say that the results of their data analysis coincide with previous studies in this area, which also indicated the relationship between the diet of children in early childhood and their future behavior and performance at school. The authors of the study also clarify that this is influenced by the foods that a child consumes under 3 years of age.
The explanation for the latter factor is as follows: the brain grows faster during the first three years of life, and, accordingly, a proper and healthy diet during this period only affects its development positive.