Recent research conducted at the University of Adelaide has shown that children who eat healthier food have a higher IQ than children who eat unhealthy or "junk" food. The study as led by Dr. Lisa Smithers, a health researcher at the University of Adelaide. She researched the link between the diets of youngsters aged 6 months to 15 months and then to 24 months and their IQ at eight years of age.
The study of approximately 7,000 or more children looked at a range of foods including traditional home prepared food, ready made baby food, and junk foods. The aim of the study was to take a look at how diet plays a role in the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life. Dr. Smithers highlighted that children who were breastfed at 6 months and ate healthy fruits and vegetables had up to two points higher on their IQ by the age of 8.
On the flip side those children who ate biscuits, chocolates, and other foods like that in their first two years by the age of eight had an IQ 2 points lower than the first group who ate food that was healthy. There was also shown a negative effect on children who consumed prepared baby food but did show positive results when they ate this food at 24 months. The difference in IQ may be small in size but it does show that diet patterns at 24 months does have a residual effect at age 8. Dr. Smithers was quoted as saying that its important to consider the impact of the foods we feed our children long term.
Source: http://www.healthymuslim.com/articles/xpvqnyppm-healthy-diets-in-children-lead-to-higher-iq.cfm
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