A recent study published in Scientific Reports suggests greater fish consumption can have significant benefits for children. According to the study, children who ate fish at least once a week scored almost five points higher on IQ tests than children who seldom or never ate fish. Even children who occasionally ate fish scored an average of three points higher. The study indicates eating more fish is also linked to improved sleep.

According to Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Medical Center, fish is a good source of lean protein and is high in omega-3 essential fatty acids. These acids are highly concentrated in the brain and play important roles in neurological function as well as eye, heart and brain health.

Heller advises considering the amount of mercury, a neurotoxin, found in fish when deciding what types and quantities of fish to eat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends only one to two servings of low-mercury fish a week for children. The FDA notes catfish as a low-mercury option that can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.

View the full article from CBS: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-eating-fish-make-kids-smarter/
View the full study in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-17520-w