We all want our children to be healthy, and most parents understand the affect a good diet can have on their child’s health, not to mention self-image. But recent studies show another reason why getting yourself in shape and passing along those good eating habits to your kids is beneficial: you might just kick up their IQ a few points!
According to a recent study from the University of Adelaide, children that are fed healthy diets at an early age may end up with a higher IQ. Conversely, children fed diets heavier in junk food could end up with a slightly reduced IQ.
The study observed the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and two years, and their IQ after their eighth birthday. According to Dr. Lisa Smithers, head of the study:
“We found that children who were breastfed at six months and had a healthy diet regularly including foods such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 and 24 months, had an IQ up to two points higher by age eight.
“Those children who had a diet regularly involving biscuits, chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to two points lower by age eight.”
Of course, one of the most important things parents can do for their children is to set a good example to follow. By eating healthy yourself, you’ll make it easier to set good patterns for your kids.
Tell us some of your kid’s favorite healthy dishes in the comments!
To read more about Dr. Smithers’ research, See: Children’s Healthy Diets Linked to Higher IQ | Science Daily