Eating a handful of nuts every day, over just two months, was enough to improve brain function in children with obesity, finds a new study (1). 

The first-of-its-kind randomised clinical trial involved 8 to 10-year-old girls with obesity.

They were divided into an intervention group, that ate 30g of nuts a day, and a control group (no nuts). Eighty girls completed the study, with an equal split of 40 in each group.

Over an 8-week period, adding 30g of nuts every day into the diets of obese children resulted in better cognitive and executive function scores.

Two tools were used to assess cognitive function:

• The Wechsler test, which considers intelligence, comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed, and
• The BRIEF parental questionnaire, looking at basic cognitive processes and working memory.

After eight weeks, the nut group had an improved total Wechsler score and total BRIEF score, compared to the control group.

And certain components of the Wechsler and BRIEF tests, including short-term memory, digit span (the ability to remember a sequence of numbers), and picture completion (pointing out missing elements in pictures), were significantly improved in the nut group.

Did you know? Research has shown a link between childhood obesity and reduced cognitive function and poorer academic skills (1).

Nuts may contribute to cognitive health by improving diet quality, and boosting intake of certain nutrients and bioactive compounds.

This includes omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, essential amino acids, like arginine, and nutrients such as magnesium, selenium, copper, iron, and zinc – which are all known to support brain function (1).

Did you know? A study, involving 846 Spanish adolescents, found eating ≥ 3 nut servings a week to be linked with higher academic performance (2).

Add nuts into a child’s diet by offering:

• A handful of nuts as a snack
• Nut butter and banana on whole grain toast
• Sliced apple with a nut butter dip
• An after-school smoothie, with nuts blended in
• A mix of nuts, dried fruit, popcorn, and chocolate chips as a movie night snack.

Encouraging children to eat a handful of nuts every day may help to displace less healthy foods in the diet – promoting a better diet overall. 

Did you know? Improving cognitive function in childhood can help prevent cognitive decline later in life.

The new research study was published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition.