Scientists from the University of Illinois and the Federal University of Pelotas found that frequent consumption of fast food, sweets, and sugary drinks by young children is associated with lower IQ scores at ages six to seven. This is reported by the British Journal of Nutrition.
Experts analyzed the eating habits of two-year-old children and assessed their intellectual abilities during school years. The study examined not individual products, but overall dietary patterns. Two main dietary groups were identified: the 'correct' group, which includes legumes, vegetables, fruits, baby food, and natural juices, and the 'incorrect' group, consisting of convenience foods, sweets, processed meats, soft drinks, and fast food.
It was found that children who preferred an unhealthy diet scored significantly lower on intelligence tests. This correlation persisted even after accounting for various social factors, such as the mother's age and education, family composition, and other parameters.
A particularly noticeable negative relationship between diet quality and cognitive abilities was identified in children with physiological developmental deviations: those with low body weight, stunted growth, or reduced head circumference at an early age. At the same time, healthy eating did not show a direct correlation with high intelligence scores.
The authors of the study conclude on the importance of forming proper eating habits from an early age, as unhealthy diets can have a significant impact on children's intellectual development in the long term.
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