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Healthy eating makes criminals nicer people?

The Sinister Haiku Bureau

13:18 / 27.06.02

Should I go out mugging,or should I stay at home and eat a banana?

Tom Coates

14:06 / 27.06.02

This is a fascinating study with a huge range of potential implications - from the responsibilities of a state to look after the nutritional need of the people in it, all the way through to ideas of selfhood and self-control. The one thing that slightly annoys me is that they don't tell you what these damn pills are! And because of that it's very difficult for those of us who do have .,.. unorthodox ... diets to know which ones to use...

The Sinister Haiku Bureau

19:19 / 27.06.02

Yeah, it's one of the most surprising pieces of science news I've come across in a while- IMHO at least.
I looked for other stuff on this, and found this and this. Which doesn't help much, but it's a start, I suppose...
I saw this on the lunchtime BBC news on monday, and the ex-prisoners interviewed didn't believe it. Which isn't that surprising,as I find it fairly amazing as well.
So, do you think that the politicans and what-not will take this on board? Do you think it'll actually change policy, or even crime rates? What sort of policies are they justified in making in the light of this? Am I the only one having visions of an absurdist version of Clockwork Orange, with Alex strapped to a chair and being force fed peas?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

07:18 / 28.06.02

The results are certainly striking: a 37% drop in reoffending is nothing to be sneezed at. It'll be interesting to see what's learned from the broader study.

Since the study was conducted using a supplement in pill form, I don't see why they can't just keep giving everyone a tablet with thier meals. Other options might be to fortify the diet of prison inmates with these vitamins and minerals (adding the supplement to food, perhaps).

Since supplements of this kind are dirt cheap, I don't see why they couldn't be given away free at the doctor's- like condoms are now. Supplements could also be given out in schools (like free milk used to be.) Sure, there'd be the initial expenditure but if it cuts crime and improves heath, the potential savings are enormous.

w1rebaby

09:56 / 28.06.02

There was a study several years ago in a badly-performing school, where they banned all Coke, chips etc from the canteen, got rid of the vending machines, and only made water and nutritious foods available. Their exam results went up by something like 20%, they had almost no violence etc etc.

That one got ignored long-term, though; pressure from food manufacturers?

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