New study shows that babies who are given healthy foods may be smarter than those who aren't

Posted on 14 August 2012

We've all heard the saying "you are what you eat," but that phrase was proven true after researchers in Australia discovered that parents who feed their babies and toddlers lots of junk food lowered their child's IQ up to two points.

The study, which was printed in the European Journal of Epidemiology, involved upwards of 7,000 child participants. Their diets were evaluated at 6 months, 1 year and 3 months and 2 years old.

"We found that children who were breast-fed at 6 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 8," said Lisa Smithers, one of the study's researchers, according to HealthDay News. "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 8."

In their report, scientists also mentioned that store-bought baby food had some undesired effects on a kid's brain when given at 6 months. However, prepared food actually had a positive impact on a little one's IQ when eaten after 2 years of age.

Of course, while these conclusions are certainly interesting, news sources did say that more research was needed. If you are a parent and have any questions about what your child should be eating, you should never hesitate to consult your doctor. He or she can help you put together a list of foods that will improve your baby's health and his intelligence!

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