Gaby
Kids who eat fish at least twice a week tend to be more sociable and kinder, a study from the University of Bristol (UK) found.
The research team urges parents to “give their children the best start in life” by adding more fish to their diets.
Dr. Caroline Taylor, a lecturer in nutrition and the lead author of the study, stated, “Our evidence linking fish consumption in children to positive behavioral development is clear. We strongly recommend that parents provide their children with at least two servings of fish per week.”
Researchers also found that children who did not eat fish were less likely to behave in prosocial ways and were less friendly.
Previous studies have shown that seafood is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and iodine—nutrients that play a key role in brain development and cognitive function. With that in mind, the team set out to see whether children’s seafood consumption was connected to their behavior and intelligence levels.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
The team examined long-term data from nearly 6,000 children aged 7 to 9 living in England.
About 7.2 percent of the children did not eat fish weekly; 63.9 percent consumed between 1 and 190 grams per week, while 28.9 percent ate more than 190 grams per week—equivalent to more than two servings.
Breaded fish products, such as fish sticks, accounted for nearly half (46 percent) of the children’s total seafood consumption.
The likelihood of below-average behavioral development was 35 percent higher in seven-year-olds who did not consume fish compared with those who ate at least 190 grams of fish per week. Among nine-year-olds, that figure rose to 43 percent, according to the Daily Mail.
The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that children who did not eat fish were less likely to engage in prosocial behavior. (Prosocial behavior includes friendly interactions and altruism.)
Researchers also looked for a link between seafood consumption and intelligence levels in children but found no connection.
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), a healthy, balanced diet includes at least two servings of fish per week, including one serving of oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, or sardines.
Study authors advised that boys should eat no more than four servings of oily fish per week, while girls should limit themselves to no more than two.
Most children in the study did not eat enough seafood to meet NHS recommendations.
The research team hopes their findings will help parents who want to raise healthy, sociable, and kind children.
