Fwd: Study - vegetarians are more intelligent

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>

> > Vegetarians are more intelligent, says study

> > 15.12.06

> >

> > Frequently dismissed as cranks, their fussy eating

> > habits tend to make them

> > unpopular with dinner party hosts and guests

> alike.

> >

> > But now it seems they may have the last laugh,

> with

> > research showing

> > vegetarians are more intelligent than their

> > meat-eating friends.

> >

> > A study of thousands of men and women revealed

> that

> > those who stick to a

> > vegetarian diet have IQs that are around five

> points

> > higher than those who

> > regularly eat meat.

> >

> > Writing in the British Medical Journal, the

> > researchers say it isn't clear

> > why veggies are brainier - but admit the fruit and

> > veg-rich vegetarian diet

> > could somehow boost brain power.

> >

> > The researchers, from the University of

> Southampton,

> > tracked the fortunes of

> > more than 8,000 volunteers for 20 years.

> >

> > At the age of ten, the boys and girls sat a series

> > of tests designed to

> > determine their IQ.

> >

> > When they reached the age of 30, they were asked

> > whether they were

> > vegetarian and their answers compared to their

> > childhood IQ score.

> >

> > Around four and a half per cent of the adults were

> > vegetarian - a figure

> > that is broadly in line with that found in the

> > general population.

> >

> > However, further analysis of the results showed

> > those who were brainiest as

> > children were more likely to have become

> vegetarian

> > as adults, shunning both

> > meat and fish.

> >

> > The typical adult veggie had a childhood IQ of

> > around 105 - around five

> > points higher than those who continued to eat meat

> > as they grew up.

> >

> > The vegetarians were also more likely to have

> gained

> > degrees and hold down

> > high-powered jobs.

> >

> > There was no difference in IQ between strict

> > vegetarians and those who

> > classed themselves as veggie but still ate fish or

> > chicken.

> >

> > However, vegans - vegetarians who also avoid dairy

> > products - scored

> > significantly lower, averaging an IQ score of 95

> at

> > the age of 10.

> >

> > Researcher Dr Catharine Gale said there could be

> > several explanations for

> > the findings, including intelligent people being

> > more likely to consider

> > both animal welfare issues and the possible health

> > benefits of a vegetarian

> > diet.

> >

> > Previous work has shown that vegetarians tend to

> > have lower blood pressure

> > and lower cholesterol, cutting their risk of heart

> > attacks. They are also

> > less likely to be obese.

> >

> > Alternatively, a diet which is rich in fruit,

> > vegetables and wholegrains may

> > somehow boost brain power.

> >

> > Dr Gale said: 'Although our results suggest that

> > children who are more

> > intelligent may be more likely to become

> vegetarian

> > as adolescents or young

> > adults, it does not rule out the possibility that

> > such a diet might have

> > some beneficial effect on subsequent cognitive

> > performance.

> >

> > 'Might the nature of the vegetarians' diet have

> > enhanced their apparently

> > superior brain power? Was this the mechanism that

> > helped them achieve the

> > disproportionate nature of degrees?'

> >

> > High-profile vegetarians include singers

> > McCartney and sey and

> > actress Seagrove.

> >

> > Past exponents of a meat-free lifestyle include

> > Bernard Shaw and

> > lin.

> >

> > Promoting the cause, Shaw said, 'A mind of the

> > calibre of mine cannot drive

> > its nutriment from cows', while lin stated

> that

> > a vegetarian diet

> > resulted in 'greater clearness of head and quicker

> > comprehension'.

> >

> > Liz O'Neill, of the Vegetarian Society, said:

> 'We've

> > always known that

> > vegetarianism is an intelligent, compassionate

> > choice benefiting animals,

> > people and the environment. Now, we've got the

> > scientific evidence to prove

> > it.

> >

> > 'Maybe that explains why many meat-reducers are

> keen

> > to call themselves

> > vegetarians when even they must know that

> > vegetarians don't eat chicken,

> > turkey or fish!'

> >

> >

>

>