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Vegetarians are more intelligent, says study
Last updated at 09:37am on 15.12.06Frequently 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 Paul McCartney and Morrissey and actress Jenny Seagrove.
Past exponents of a meat-free lifestyle include George Bernard Shaw and Benjamin Franklin.
Promoting the cause, Shaw said, 'A mind of the calibre of mine cannot drive its nutriment from cows', while Franklin 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!'
Reader views (27)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
The findings could be true. In India, one can see that Brahmins, who are hard-core vegetarians, form a not so insignificant portion of the academic and scientific establishment.
BTW, what happened to the earlier hypothesis that regarded fish as brain food.
- Vinu, Kochi, India
interesting conjecture.. but it seems the entire article could have been summed up with the quote:
"our results suggest that children who are more intelligent may be more likely to become vegetarian as adolescents or young adults"
I'd imagine those same children with higher IQs are more likely to be interested in fine arts, music, community activism, global economics, environmentalism and all manner of activity that requires more attention that sitting on the couch, watching the latest episode of american idol and ordering delivery pizza.
If you think this study in anyway shows that eating a vegetarian diet will directly increase intelligence please remember: correlation does not imply causation!
Reworded:
our results suggest that children who are more intelligent may be more likely to become (interested in pursuits of the mind and be less likely to blindly follow the status quo).... which i think we already knew anyway?
Can we do a study on something that isn't so obvious?
- Unimpressed, Japan
the research implies that vegetarians are smarter but dont avoid diary products
- Rojapu, KL, malaysia
"You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"What I think about vivisection is that if people admit that they have the right to take or endanger the life of living beings for the benefit of many, there will be no limit to their cruelty."-Tolstoy
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."~Albert Einstein
"What is it that should trace the insuperable line? ...The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?"
~Jeremy Bentham
"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."~Leonardo da Vinci
- William, Syracuse, NY USA
"Matt, read the article again. It does not "suggest" that becoming a vegetarian at some point in adulthood would contribute to one's IQ score, it IS a fact. Clearly your head was not too clear... Perhaps you should switch to a vegetarian diet, dear."
"It's a fact." I love that. Saying something's a fact doesn't make one.
Do the world a favor and eat some meat. It's healthy for you.
For every animal a vegetarian doesn't eat, I'll eat three. There's a reason why hmans have teeth designed for tearing through meat.
- Anonymous, USA
Did any of you read: "There was no difference in IQ between strict vegetarians and those who classed themselves as veggie but still ate fish or chicken." Chicken? Come, on now. Or how about, "However, vegans - vegetarians who also avoid dairy products - scored significantly lower, averaging an IQ score of 95 at the age of 10." Clearly, this show absolutely no correlation between between being a vegetarian and being smart. In fact, it more likely implies that you're dumber if you ate absolutely no animal product (i.e. dairy).
- Vijay, Rochester, USA
I committed to be a vegetarian for both ethical and health reasons. Knowing that eating animals is harmful to the environment, bad for the body and more than not very cruel are reasons enough to enjoy the alternative. I don't think that it is the diet that makes the group more intelligent, its just the more intelligent thing to do. I hope this gets lots of press throughout the world.
- Stan Wetch, Tecate, Mexico
Matt, read the article again. It does not "suggest" that becoming a vegetarian at some point in adulthood would contribute to one's IQ score, it IS a fact. Clearly your head was not too clear... Perhaps you should switch to a vegetarian diet, dear.
- Abby, USA
The stupidity of people that eat any sort of animal flesh and then claim vegetarian status just bowls me over.
One of the first things we learn as childern is "animal, vegetable, mineral". Even a three-year-old child knows which category a fish fits in.
The report shows very little if this group of people are included in the statistics.
- Colin, Beckton, London
As a vegetarian, I would like to thank you for your soon-to-be-quoted article. I cannot comprehend why the "club it and cook it" method is still so highly thought of today.
- Lois E Dahl, Redding, CA, US
It is really incredible to me that someone would try to suggest that becoming a vegetarian at some point in adulthood would somehow contribute to one's score on an IQ test taken as a child.
- Matt, USA
So Vegans started out stupid and ended up what?
I mean besides malnourished and pale.
- Jeff, Kabul, Afghanistan
As many people have already realized, this finding is skewed. If the study was broken down according to level of education, I'm sure we would find that in the college graduate group we would see more vegetarians. This also ties in with the added expense of healthy eating. Among lower income or education, I think intelligence would cease to be a factor in vegetarian diet.
- Neal, Norfolk, VA USA
I'd like to get IQ boosting nutrients in concentrated form. Perhaps by eating vegetarians?
- Dave Ross, New York, New York
So if I give up steak I might gain 5 points? I think I'll stick to steak AND daily exercise. From what I've read 5 points is well in the margin of error for IQ tests.
- 1sg, Colorado Springs, CO USA
They got this backwards. It isn't the diet that makes the person smarter. It is the smarter people choosing this enlightened diet. You don't need to kill to have dinner.
I am absolutely brilliant, and dashingly handsome I might add, and stopped eating meat 13 years ago, because killing animals and devouring their flesh is just disgusting.
- Yogi, Irvine, CA USA
Nutritionally it is surely correct that vegetables and fruit are healthful. And, it is also correct that protein is an essential nutrient. The trick is to get the protein and avoid the fat by eating such sources as nonfat yoghurt and legumes. My suspicion about the apparent brain-power correlation with eating vegatables would be that circulation (including circulation in the brain) is much better. Dementia, memory loss, stroke, heart disease are, evidence is indicating, all manifestations of circulation issues, and fat is the big culprit. Eat your veggies and proper protein, avoid the fat, improve your circulation, and your body AND brain power will benefit.
- Palmer Hinsdale, San Francisco, USA
Simply spectacular. I will tout it till the cows home!
- Navin, Madison, WI USA
What poppycock! My husband and I scored 188 and 175, respectively, on IQ tests, and we both love Big Macs! Methinks the researchers found what they wanted to find.
- Sheila, USA
These "studies" use false logic. It is not cause and effect, per se, but you will probably find that intelligent people in general are more apt to consider a healthy diet. The diet is a result of intelligence, not the vegatables causing the intelligence. This makes sense when you consider the vegans were found to have a lower IQ, as any intelligent person would be able to reason that depriving themselves of all animal-based protiens would be unhealthy.
- Jay, Jacksonville, Fl
Vegetarians are smarter!
- Bella, Berkeley, CA
This is an interesting study, but only shows correlation. All you intelligent vegetarians understand, of course, that this is different from showing causation. Still, it is provocative.
I'd hypothesize that it takes a certain amount of brainpower to get worked up enough to make deliberate and counter-cultural food choices. As vegetarian diets become more accepted and common, I imagine regression to the mean IQ of 100 is inevitable.
This work suggests interesting further studies- perhaps functional MRIs of vegetarians and carnivores as they work out puzzles could see what goes on.
- David Eaton, United States
Vegetarianism is an ethical religion and the key evangelists of this religion reside at universities and colleges. Common people do not normally meet vegetarians, so they are not evangelized as heavily.
Vegan culture is a counter-culture and is associated with Goths, neo-hippies, and similar groups which usually consist of non-college bound, or college drop-outs.
These cultural points explain the study for me.
- Brian, Ohio, USA
For those less informed: The fact is that telling someone you are a pescatarian never works out. (Don't know the word? Look it up.) By saying the more universally known word Vegetarian it's easier to just avoid the enevitable "deer in headlights" stare you get otherwise from the general population.
Truth is - knock on wood - I'm rarely sick and my brain is perhaps a little too active. I know a lot of very smart meat-eaters though so I think anyone who takes this study as anything other than just an observation on society is a little absurd.
- Katherine, Indianapolis
I'm a pseudo - fish eating - veggie. I had my IQ measured age 13 before becoming dropping (non fish) meat. It was 140. 25 years later, my wife bought me an IQ test kit, and following on from that I sat the Mensa test again. The result was 165. No idea if diet has played a part, but I certainly do feel less dumb than I was - maybe that's just ageing...
- Gareth, London, UK
A vegetarian or mostly-vegetarian diet will usually be rich in anti-oxidants and in unsaturated oils, both good for the brain. Occasionally eating oily fish as well is probably even better: omega-3 fats are known to be very important for brain function. Why is this a surprise? It's been standard nutritional advice for years, this just confirms it. Smallish amounts of lean meat are unlikely to do any harm, large amounts will inflict more saturated fat on your body than it is designed to cope with and some of that excess probably ends up causing mischief in the brain (which is made mostly out of fats).
- Nigel, London
An interesting report, but surely anyone who classes themselves as a vegetarian but eats fish or chicken, as the report mentions at one stage, isn't intelligent enough to know that they are not vegetarians at all.
- Tony, Lancashire
