A new study published in PsyPost suggests that among teenagers with attention disorders, those who follow a Mediterranean-style diet and consume specific vitamins perform significantly better on cognitive tests measuring focus and processing speed.
The research found that most teenagers eat poor diets regardless of their mental health status. However, within the group of adolescents diagnosed with attention disorders, diet quality made a meaningful difference. Those whose eating patterns more closely resembled the Mediterranean diet reported fewer struggles with focus and hyperactivity, and demonstrated faster, more consistent performance on computerised attention tests.
While the study focuses on general adolescent cognition rather than sport, the findings carry particular relevance for youth judo. Concentration, timing, and the ability to read an opponent are fundamental to judo performance. For teenage judoka who may already face attention challenges, dietary choices could play a supporting role in training and competition.
The Mediterranean diet emphasises fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, olive oil, and fish, while limiting processed foods and refined sugars. It has been associated with cognitive benefits across multiple studies, though researchers caution that diet alone is not a treatment for attention disorders.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that nutrition may be an overlooked factor in youth sport development, particularly for young athletes managing conditions such as ADHD.