Organic Food May Be Better For Cognitive Development

The fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants in these foods can improve cognitive function in children.


A totally ecological fruit and vegetable stand.

A study has found that children who eat organic foods may have better cognitive development. Parents all over the world know that what a child eats is important for their growth and development. That’s why mealtime can be incredibly stressful, especially if mom is dealing with a picky eater. You may be concerned that they are not getting the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. Studies are constantly being conducted to see how the foods our children eat affect their growth and development.

Organic food has always been viewed as “superior” and people have been encouraged to eat a totally organic diet despite being inaccessible to some families. According to Medical Xpress, a new study has found that organic foods can aid in positive cognitive development.

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The study was completed by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health and the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute. It was published in the magazine, Environmental pollution, and it can be read in its entirety here. In summary, the study found that school-age children who ate more organic foods scored higher when it came to fluent intelligence (the ability to solve reasoning problems).

Jodi Julvez was the lead author of the study and gave some reasons why this could be the case. He said organic diets are richer in nutrients than fast food diets for the brain. The number of The fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants in these foods can improve cognitive function and development in childhood.

The study also found trends that can lead to decreased function in intelligence scores. Things like Fast food diets, overcrowded houses, and tobacco smoke can hamper development and should be avoided.. The study examined more than 1,200 children between the ages of 6 and 11 from 6 different European countries.


The purpose of the study was to look at exposures in the brain and what may influence it, as the brain is still developing rapidly during this time. This does not mean that children should eat all organic food at every meal, but rather that their organic food intake should be higher than their fast food intake.

This can cause complications for many families who may not have the financial resources or the time to purchase and prepare organic meals for their children every day. However, they are encouraging parents to try everything they can as it shows that it does improve cognitive function.

READ NEXT: Reverse Psychology Can Help Kids Eat Their Dreaded Veggies

Sources: Medical Xpress, Science Direct


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