------------------------------------------------------------ INCREASE YOUR CHILD'S IQ:
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DISCOVER THE NUTRITION RESEARCH THAT SHOWS YOU HOW!
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By John Payne
* Poor nutrition costs your children IQ points
* Good nutrition boosts their IQ.
* Nutritional supplements have an important role to play.
These are the startling conclusions to be drawn from medical research that goes as far back as 30 years ago!
In a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition in 1983 (1), Schauss and a team from MIT looked at the IQ score and the amount of refined carbohydrates (which are very low in nutrients) in the diet of their subjects. They found that the higher the consumption of sugar, white bread, commercial cereals etc.-the lower the IQ. Those with the highest levels of high refined-carbohydrate consumption had an IQ score 25 points LOWER than those with the lowest consumption!
In 1960, Kabula and his colleagues took 351 students, and tested them for the vitamin C level in their blood (2). The 351 were then divided into two groups- high and low vitamin C level. The two groups were then tested for their IQ score. The fascinating result was that the 'high' vitamin C group had an average IQ of 113; the 'low' group's average was 109- a 4 POINT DIFFERENCE!
These two studies indicate that low nutrient status has a strong corelation with a lower IQ score. Can nutritional supplements help? The answer seems to be a resounding YES!
Across the Atlantic, in the United Kingdom, 60 children took part in a study (3) to test the effect of nutritional supplementation on mental performance. Half the children were placed on a placebo; half on an optimal multi vitamin and mineral supplement. After eight months, the non-verbal IQ's of the two groups were tested. The results were published in the prestigious medical journal, the Lancet. The researchers reported that there was no change in the group taking the placebo. However, the group taking the nutritional supplement had an average 10-POINT INCREASE in their IQ!
In California, researchers conducted a study with 615 schoolchildren (4). The children were assigned to one of four groups. One group was placed on a placebo, the other 3 groups on a nutritional supplement program that represented 50%, 100% and 200% of the US RDA's. After three months the children's IQ's were tested. In the group taking the placebo, there was no difference. In the other 3 groups, the average increase in IQ was OVER 4 POINTS!
What are the lessons we can learn from this research?
* limit your child's consumption of highly refined carbohydrates- that means, soda pop ('soft drinks'), cakes, cookies, confectionery etc.
* introduce as much fruit and vegetableS into their diet as possible.
* use wholemeal and multi-grain breads to replace white bread.
* give them a good multivitamin/multimineral supplement (see below)
Follow these guidelines, and the research shows that your child will enjoy a higher IQ. It's an advantage during their school days that will give them a vital headstart in this increasingly competitive world.
I am indebted to Patrick Holford, Founder of the UK's Institute for Optimum Nutrition, and author of The Optimum Nutrition Bible for the information in this article. His book has a graph summarising the results of eight studies.
Footnotes;
(1) Schauss, A., J.App.Nutr., 35,1, (1983)
(2) Kabula, A.J., Gen. Psych., 96 p343-352, (1960)
(3) Benton D., 'Effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation on intelligence of a sample school of school children', Lancet (Jan 23, 1988)
(4) Schoenthaler, S. et al., 'Controlled trial of vitamin- mineral supplementation:Effects on intelligence and performance,' Person. Individ. Diff., vol 12:4, p351- 362, (1991)
John Payne AAMI AIMM has spent a lifetime in Sales, Management, Merchandising and Marketing. He is a Member of the Institutes of Marketing and Management. John has worked and consulted for some of the country's top companies and organizations.
John publishes the popular free ezine A Better Life: ItsYourFuture!, and the ItsYourFuture.net website. Both have the Motto "Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper".
As well as being a successful businessman and trainer, John is an accomplished Track and Field veteran athlete, with national and international titles to his name.
