Harbour no illusions about the perils of Twinkies: new studies indicate that the over-consumption of junk food not only makes you fat, it makes you stupid. Results gleaned from a study by the Avon Longitudinal Institute of Parents and Children indicate that young kids who consume a diet high in sugars, fats and processed foods mature with a lower IQ. Conversely, those kiddies who are fed a nutrient-rich diet laden with vitamins grow up to exhibit higher levels of intelligence.
Apparently, the low IQ encouraged by lousy eating habits in early childhood is irreversible. Between the ages of four and seven, dietary patterns left no impact on IQ. The brain experiences its most prolific growth in the first three years of life, and it needs to be fed appropriately during this formative time. “It is possible that good nutrition during this period may encourage optimal brain growth,” researchers told CTV.
Really, this all seems like common sense anyway. After all, there must be grains of benevolence lodged in the ritual parent-child battle waged over daily vegetable consumption. Still, a general awareness of junk food’s evils is trickling down through the system. The City of Toronto plans to banish all pop and energy drinks from vending machines operated on city property by 2014 – especially in youth-oriented hubs like arenas and community centres – in the hopes that cutting sugary options will help encourage a healthier lifestyle in its citizens. Looks like it could encourage a more intelligent population, too.
[CTV]