Study Reveals Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables Reduces the Risk of Tantrums in Children

Illustration of an angry girl (Photo: Freepik/Freepik)

JAKARTA - A recent study revealed that children's diets are closely linked to their mental and behavioral health on a daily basis.

The study found that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of children experiencing tantrums, anxiety, and aggressive behavior.

The research conducted by researchers from the University of Agder, Norway, and published in the journal Nutrients showed that children who eat more fruits and vegetables tend to have more stable emotional conditions compared to children who often eat sweet and salty snacks.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from 363 four-year-old children and their mothers through the Early Food for Future Health research program in Norway. This study was previously designed to improve children's diets from six to 12 months of age.

The results showed that children who regularly eat fruits and vegetables have a lower level of internal behavioral problems, such as anxiety, depression, and a tendency to withdraw from social environments.

Conversely, children who often consume sweet and salty snacks are more prone to aggressive behavior, difficulty focusing, and easily expressing emotions.

"Mental health challenges are increasing worldwide. Identifying preventable factors that contribute to these challenges is very important and will have the greatest impact if they are recognized when children are still young," wrote the researchers, quoted from the Euro News page.

The researchers emphasized that children's mental health at an early age is very important because it affects their social abilities, academic achievements, and quality of life in the future.

The study also highlights external behavioral problems such as aggression and oppositional attitudes as one of the main reasons children are referred to child and adolescent mental health services.

"This includes aggressive and defiant behavior, and can be a predictor of emerging social problems and low academic achievement throughout childhood and adolescence," the researchers said in their report.

This kind of behavior can even appear since children are under five years old. According to research, about two-thirds of children who show behavioral problems at the age of two to three years will continue to experience similar challenges until they enter school age.

"This condition shows the importance of identifying factors related to mental health from the beginning of life," the study concluded.

This finding reinforces the view that a healthy diet is not only important for the physical growth of children, but also plays a major role in maintaining mental health and emotional stability from an early age.