- Food for the Brain Foundation
The Food for the Brain Foundation is a non-profit
educational campaign, created by a group ofnutritionist s, doctors,psychiatrist s,psychologist s,teacher s andscientist s to promote the link betweennutrition andmental health . It is an initiative lead byPatrick Holford , its chief executive. [ [http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1604 Who we are] Food for the Brain Foundation; 2007; Accessed 05-02-2007 ]The foundation has received publicity with its pilot study in a number of British schools that has attempted to improve children's performance by improving nutrition. The campaign has been both lauded as revealing a massive improvement in pupils' behaviour and performances Paton, Graeme. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/10/ndiet10.xml "Diet and exercise 'transformed our children'"] ,
Daily Telegraph ; 10/01/2007 ;Accessed 05/02/2007 ] and criticised as unscientific Goldacre, Ben. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1983925,00.html "Doctored information on celebrity nutritionist"] ,The Guardian . Accessed 20/02/2007.] and encouraging fad diets. Goodchilde, Sophie and Owen, Jonathan. [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/791354/doctors_warn_against_food_fad_dangers__nutrition_experts_massively/index.html "Doctors Warn Against Food Fad Dangers ; Nutrition Experts 'Massively Concerned' Over Unqualified and Unregulated Diet Gurus"] ,Independent on Sunday ; 07/01/2007; Accessed 05/02/2007 at Redorbit.com ]Its mission is to promote the awareness of the link between learning, behaviour, mental health and nutrition. [ [http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1630 Our mission] Foodforthebrain.org; 2007; Accessed 05/02/2007 ] They also seek to provide educational materials to relative bodies. __TOC__
Schools campaign
The best known and launching campaign of the Food for the Brain Foundation was a pilot study carried out at
Cricket Green special education school inMerton ,London . This study lasted seven months and had pupils following "a daily regime of taking the long chain fatty acid supplement "eye q", a combination of omega-3 fish oil and omega-6 evening primrose oil, a balanced nutritious diet, a new exercise regime, and a multivitamin." [ [http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=187808 eye q(TM): New Data Reveals School Children Transformed by Unique School Programme] PRNewswire; London; 10-01-2007; Accessed 05-02-2007 ] The study "transformed" the behaviour of children at the school, with a 25% drop inpsychosomatic problems reported. ] A similar study, followed by theITV current affairs programmeTonight with Trevor MacDonald , is underway atChineham Park schoolBasingstoke . Hoyle, Antonia. [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/dailynews/tm_headline=exclusive--diet-that-saved-a-school&method=full&objectid=18393946&siteid=94762-name_page.html "Diet That Save A School"] ,Sunday Mirror ; 05-01-2007; Accessed 20-02-2007 ] This has been described as "phenomenally successful", with children's behaviour notably improving.However, the studies have also been criticised.
Catherine Collins ofSt George's Hospital inLondon stated that a pupil in the Merton study had "suffered sleep problems and her weight dropped as a result of the advice [Mr Holford] gave." The study as been criticised as being unscientific, with results "cherry-picked" and the effects merely a "placebo". Holford and the foundation reject some of these allegations. Holford claims that the pupil in the Merton study has since regained the lost weight, which he puts down to a reduction in hergluten intake, after tests revealed she was "gluten sensitive". He states that her overall behaviour and health have improved during the study. [ Holford, Patrick. [http://www.patrickholford.com/content.asp?id_Content=1750 "In Response To The Article Titled ‘Doctors Warn Against Food Fad Dangers’"] , 2007; Accessed 04-02-2007 ]Notes
Further reading
* [http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1 Food for the Brain Foundation homepage]
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