While pumping iron may build stronger biceps, new research shows that consuming iron may build stronger brain power.
A recent study at the University of Rochester-New York (URNC) found that iron-deficient children scored lower on math tests. Results indicated that iron-deficient kids aged 6 to 16 were twice as likely to get below-average math scores. And 3% of the children had low iron, rising to 8.7% for girls aged 12 to 16, likely due to menstruation. Parents should ensure that their kids eat an iron-sufficient diet, says study author Jill Halterman, M.D., a URNC pediatrician.
A second study at the University of North Carolina (UNC) found that feeding a 2-year-old a varied diet may provide an intellectual edge later. Researchers observed the diets of 1,300 children ages 2 and 8, then gave aptitude tests at age/1. They found that those eating a more restricted diet had academic scores well below average, while kids with a more varied diet scored above average. Iron, zinc and iodine have all been linked to cognitive development, so "make sure your kids develop a preference for foods that aren't deficient in important nutrients early in life," says study author Michelle Mendez, Ph.D., a UNC epidemiologist.
