Many health experts have defined fish as brain food and as it turns out, it is more than just that! A report published in the journal Scientific Reports, kids who eat fish may score higher on IQ tests and also experience a sound sleep.

The researchers at the University of Pennsylvania claim that omega-3 fatty acids have previously been linked to intelligence and improved sleep.

Highlights:

According to the researchers, the study was done on Chinese kids

However, American kids are just as likely to benefit from eating fish, but only with a few modifications in the diet

The study cannot prove that eating fish accounted to higher IQ and better sleep, but they seem to be associated

About the study

For the research, the team studied the eating habits of more than 500 boys and girls in China within the age group of 9-11. The children were asked to answer a questionnaire about how often they ate fish in the past month with options ranging from never to at least once a week.

The kids also took a Chinese version of an IQ test that rates verbal and non-verbal skills called the Wechsler Intelligence scale for Children- Revised. In addition, children's parents had to answer questions about their children's sleep quality. The information included how long did the kids sleep, how often they woke up in the middle of the night and whether or not they slept during the day.

Results

The results of the study suggested that children who ate fish at least once a week scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ test than those who seldom or never ate fish. Kids who ate fish meals sometimes scored slightly more than 3 points.

Moreover, eating more fish was linked with better sleep.

According to the researchers, apart from the fish, a healthy balanced diet, plenty of exercise and limited computer and screen time can help kids sleep better and do much better in school.