Junk food linked to lower IQ

Almaty. February 8. Kazakhstan Today - A new study has revealed children who eat a lot of junk food have lower IQ, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Children who eat more chips, crisps, biscuits and pizza before the age of three have a lower IQ five years later, a study showed, Daily Mail reported.

The difference could be as much as five IQ points compared with children given healthier diets with fruit, vegetables and home-cooked food.

But even if their diet improves, it could be too late as the ill-effects can persist for a lifetime.

This is the first study to suggest a direct link between the diet of young children and their brainpower in later life.

The project at Bristol University took account of factors such as social class, breastfeeding and maternal education and age.

Researchers also allowed for the influence of the home environment, for example a child's access to toys and books.

They said good nutrition was crucial in the first three years of life when the brain grows at its fastest rate.

Young children eating a diet packed with fats, sugar and processed foods consume too few vitamins and nutrients, which means their brains never grow to optimal levels.

Heraldsun reported the study suggested that a diet that was preponderantly processed could lack vital vitamins and elements for cerebral development at a key stage in early childhood.

"A junk food diet is not conducive to good brain development."

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