Reducing meat consumption may contribute to the development of reasoning skills, according to a recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. The study focused on 504 children aged 6-9 over a span of two years.
During the study, one group of children received six dietary counseling sessions and six physical activity counseling sessions, while a control group did not receive any interventions. The children were also encouraged to participate in after-school clubs with a strong emphasis on physical activity.
The researchers assessed cognition using the Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices, which measures learning ability, and analyzed dietary factors through 4-day food records, using the Baltic Sea Diet Score as a measure of quality. Physical activity was measured through combined heart rate and body movement.
The study aimed to explore the impact of diet and exercise on reasoning skill development, specifically looking into the effects of interventions versus changes. Surprisingly, the study found that the counseling sessions and advice provided did not have a significant impact on the children’s cognitive development compared to the control group. The researchers speculated that the interventions might have lacked specific tasks targeting cognitive challenges and focused more on general improvements in health behavior.
However, the study did find that differences in diet and physical activity did affect cognition. Specifically, reducing red meat consumption and increasing intake of low-fat milk were associated with improved cognitive development. Additionally, spending more time reading and participating in organized sports also had positive effects on reasoning skills.
Conversely, spending more time on the computer and engaging in unsupervised physical activity were negatively associated with cognitive skills. Notably, the study also revealed that consuming low-fat milk was linked to positive cognitive development in children, suggesting that nutrients like calcium and proteins contribute to this effect.
Overall, the study emphasizes that diet and physical activity interventions are just one factor influencing lifestyle and reasoning skills in children. Investing in a healthy diet, promoting reading habits, and encouraging participation in organized sports are recommended for optimal cognitive development.
The study underscores the importance of developing healthy habits in children, with better overall diet quality, reduced red meat consumption, and increased intake of low-fat dairy products shown to positively impact reasoning skills.
These findings provide valuable insights for the food and beverage industry, highlighting trends in food manufacturing, food processing technology, food distribution, and food and drink sustainability. They also shed light on relevant regulations, packaging, marketing, and consumer trends in the industry.
Source:
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
“Effects of 2-year dietary and physical activity intervention on cognition in children—a nonrandomized controlled trials’
Published on: 9 August 2023
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14464
Authors: S. Naveed, T. Sallinen, A. Eloranta, H. Skog, H. Jalkanen, S. Brage, U. Ekelund, H. Pentikäinen, K. Savonen, T. A. Lakka, E. A. Haapala
