Fast Food Meals Lower Intelligence in Children

Fast Food, Research Studies and Children's Diet

The age old saying that mothers repeat might well be true - eat your vegetables - children's diet and fast food have been found to be a participating factor in the intelligence quota. Indeed, youngsters who live on sugary sweets and fried foods such as chicken nuggets have been found to be performing at over ten percent lower levels in school than their counterparts.

A study was conducted on over fourteen thousand children amid the ages of six and ten and it was discovered that diet had a more profound impact on kids intelligence, much more so than other quality of life factors, such as lower income means or reduced housing rank. Children's diet was shown to remarkably impact the child's intelligence equation.

Researchers note that the discovery lends credence to the theory that eating a malnourished diet or a unhealthy fast food diet can have a significant impact on a child's performance at school. By consuming a large quantity of foods that are high in sugar and fat, the likelihood that healthy food is consumed may be reduced. And a healthy diet is believed to be rich in "brain building" factors because of the Omega 3 fatty acids, such as oily fish.

A leading nutritional researcher from the University of Bristol who conducted the study, Dr Pauline Emmett, noted that she was convinced that there was a direct association between children's unhealthy eating habits and their poor tests scores. Dr. Emmett continued by stating that this test shows evidence that eating patterns have profound effects that persist over time.

Foods Known to Increase Intelligence

There are several foods, which have been studied and found to increase intelligence. Among the food items suggested for high IQ, fish is at the top of the list, however, many physicians don't necessarily recommend its consumption because it is overwhelmingly contaminated with mercury and dangerous PCBs. What is recommended, however, is fish oil. Full of beneficial omega-3 fats together with DHA, fish oil may lower inflammation in the brain and present a protective factor.

Fresh vegetables are also highly recommended for overall nutrition of the brain. It is recommended that people eat one pound of vegetables every day for each fifty pounds of body weight. The best and easiest way to complete this is to regularly drink fresh vegetable juice.

Eggs, particularly raw eggs, are rich in nutrients and a very inexpensive food source. Indeed, raw eggs are very high in protein and high-quality fats. Although many admit that consuming raw eggs takes time to get used to, raw eggs are a simple way to improve one's mind and general health. Consuming cooked eggs, however, does not have the same benefits as raw eggs do, but if cooking is necessary to succumb to their consumption, researchers recommend eating eggs that are not cooked thoroughly. If you can't bring yourself to eat raw eggs, then cook them minimally.

Blueberries are a surprisingly delicious food that is potent in antioxidants. They are very small and compact with a variety of potent phytochemcials that can improve overall health, which include positive benefits to brain function. And with the added benefit of being a reverse aging agent, blueberries can help young people to improve brain function as well as help elderly to maintain brain health.

Consult a Professional about Fast Food and Children's diet

As with any health change, it is highly recommended that people who are considering altering their diet consult with a physician first to find definitive answers to the pros and cons of a fast food diet, children's diet and intelligence.

Kids' Meals at Fast Food Restaurants Unhealthy

Many parents have done it. The kids are hungry, the parents are busy and tired after a long day at work, so the easy solution is to just drive-through a fast food restaurant and grab a kids' meal for a quick lunch or dinner. Not surprising, however, are new reports that were released documenting that fast-food restaurant chains and kids' meals are loaded with calories and salt which can be detrimental to our kids' health.

A report released on Monday showed just how much fat, salt and calories the fast food restaurant kids' meals contain. In fact, nearly ninety percent of the popular kids' meals on the market today are characterized as unhealthy for children because they have more calories than what is recommended for one meal.

The report was instigated by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, also referred to as CSPI, which is an organization that documented the fat content in many popular treats such as movie popcorn and takeout food like Chinese. The group noted that it required a lot of effort to find anything healthy that is offered to children at the popular fast food restaurants.

Kids' Meals at Popular Restaurants Studied

The menu choices for children were studied at various restaurants such as Taco Bell, KFC, Sonic, Chic-fil-A and Jack in the box. The items listed as menu options for children at these restaurants all contained too many calories for one serving. CSPI also researched thirteen other fashionable restaurants that advertise meals for children and found that a whopping ninety-three percent of the choices had more than four hundred and thirty calories per serving. The calories contained in these meals are more than what is recommended for children who are between the ages of four to eight. The group also stated that children who eat these fast food meals would consume more calories than what is recommended for two meal's worth in one meal.

Options for Healthy Kids' Meals

Children, notably the younger ones, will most likely eat what is available in the kitchen at their home. And for this reason it is imperative to stock the kitchen with healthy choices. Healthy food alternatives instead of fatty foods that are loaded with calories and salt should be offered.

Dieticians' Recommendations for Healthy Kids' Meals

Dieticians recommend fruits and vegetables be integrated into at least one daily meal with the goal of a minimum of five servings per day. And it is recommended that at every meal, some fresh fruits and vegetables be served. The ultimate target is to make it convenient for children to select healthy in-between meal snacks by stocking fresh fruits and vegetables that are easy to grab and eat. Various complete snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or cheese with whole-grain crackers. Parents should try to serve meats that are lean and offer a good source of protein, which include options such as fresh fish, eggs, nuts and beans.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's diet, it is recommended that you contact a physician or licensed dietician so that you can be sure that the menu choices you offer constitute healthy kids' meals.