FEEDING YOUR CHILDREN FISH COULD MAKE THEM MORE SOCIABLE AND KIND

Feeding your children fish could make them more sociable and kind, according to a new study. Researchers found that children who eat fish regularly tend to be more friendly and compassionate than those who don’t.

Experts suggest that fish consumption is:

“likely to have a positive effect on child development.”

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol, highlights the benefits of seafood, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and iodine. These nutrients play a crucial role in brain development and cognitive function. With this in mind, the team examined whether regular seafood intake at the age of seven could be linked to changes in children’s behaviour and cognitive abilities at ages eight and nine.

The researchers analysed long-term data from nearly 6,000 children in England, tracking their fish consumption and behavioural development. On average, children ate 123 grams of fish per week. About 7.2% of children ate no fish weekly, while 63.9% consumed between 1 and 190 grams weekly, and 28.9% ate more than 190 grams—a little over two portions. Notably, ‘white-coated fish products’ like fish fingers made up nearly half of the average fish intake.

The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that children who ate no fish were more likely to show “suboptimal prosocial behaviour,” which includes being friendly, altruistic, and willing to share.

Experts recommend that children eat at least one portion of oily fish per week. However, they caution that due to low levels of pollutants that can accumulate in oily fish, boys should have no more than four portions a week, while girls should limit their intake to two portions.

Dr. Caroline Taylor, associate professor in nutrition at the University of Bristol, explained:

“With conflicting advice, it’s hard to know what to do. Our previous studies showed that eating fish during pregnancy has a positive impact on child development, and the same benefits have been observed in countries with higher fish consumption. Encouraging fish consumption in children is likely to have a positive effect on their development.”

Dr. Taylor added:

“The evidence clearly links fish consumption to better behavioural outcomes in children, and we strongly recommend at least two portions of fish per week in line with NHS guidelines. Our research aims to help parents give their children the best start in life.”

The study used data from the Children of the 90s study, a long-term research project following families as children grow. The study, which started in the early 1990s, has recently secured £5.2 million in funding to continue tracking families in the southwest of England and has contributed to thousands of research papers.

Among the findings, children who ate no fish at age seven were 35% more likely to display “suboptimal prosocial behaviour” compared to those who ate at least 190 grams of fish per week. This difference grew to 43% by the time the children were nine.

While the study also aimed to explore whether fish consumption had an impact on intelligence, it found no significant differences in cognitive abilities among eight-year-olds, regardless of their fish intake.

According to the NHS, a “healthy, balanced diet” should include at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, or sardines.

Photo by Andrew Piper on Unsplash