MY CHILD , HIS NUTRITION, HIS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNCTION

 

MY CHILD, HIS NUTRITION, HIS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNCTION.

Hello my amazing parents how do you do?

I hope you enjoyed reading my last post that talked about helping a child who is dealing with low self-esteem and you also found it quite resourceful. If you haven’t read it, please hurry now and do so and I promise you will be glad you did.

Ok, let’s go straight to our topic for today- “My Child, His Nutrition, His Brain Development, and Function”. We will seek to establish the link (if any) between the food my child eats, his brain development, and function.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Research has proven that the quality of nutrition that a baby receives plays a huge role in the outcome of his brain development.  Consequently, it determines brain function and is vital to the child’s cognitive abilities, socio-emotional skills, and behaviours. According to Georgieff MK, Head of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Development, at the University of Minnesota, school of medicine Minneapolis, deficiency of nutrients like Iron and iodine can hamper cognition and motor development in children.

Every organ in the body has various foods that cater to its nutritional needs and wellness and we must be well aware of this so that we don’t starve some organs of their nutritional needs.

Bearing in mind that nutrition starts playing a vital role right from the time when the child is still in its mother’s womb, pregnant mothers must feed well so that their unborn babies won’t lack the nutrition that they need to thrive.

 

BEGINNING OF THE BRAIN FORMATION

Between 17 – 30 days (about 3 weeks) after the conception of a feotus, a process known as Neurulation occurs. Neurulation is a complex process that involves the deepening of the Neural groove of the baby and the elevation of its Neural folds which results in the joining and closing up of the folds to form what is known as the neural tube. It is this neural tube that eventually becomes the baby’s spinal cord, spine, brain, and skull. This piece of writing is not intended to discuss the complex process involved in brain formation rather it is for us to understand the immense role vital nutrients play in the success of this process and many others.

One major nutrient that is very important in neurulation is folic acid also known as Vitamin B. It is recommended that pregnant mothers take a daily dose of 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid to avoid having babies who have neural tube birth defects which occur when the neural tube does not close up properly.

There are two types of neural birth defects, and they are;

  Ø  Spinal Bifida: This is a neural tube defect that affects the spinal cord. It happens when the lower end of the neural tube fails to close up and then the spine and the backbone fail to form. It could result in paralysis of the lower limbs of the baby, inability to control bowel and bladder movement, water filling up in the brain, and ultimately learning disabilities.

  Ø  Anencephaly: this is a deadly neural tube birth defect that affects the brain. It happens when the upper end of the neural tube fails to close up properly resulting in the improper formation or total absence of the brain of the child. Babies who are affected by this defect are often miscarried or die shortly after birth.

 

So you see that right from conception, nutrients start playing their role in brain formation.

Let’s not also forget that good nutrition ensures adequate blood supply to the brain thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of stroke occurring.

 

HEALTHY BRAIN FOODS

With the importance of nutrition to your child’s brain development established, the focus should be on what we should be feeding our children to promote their brain health and function

Listed below are some healthy brain foods which every child needs:

  v  Eggs. How many of you, especially those of us that are from Africa, grew up hearing that it is not good to give children eggs as it makes them steal? Well, that is the biggest myth of all time. Egg which is a rich protein source is very healthy for your child’s brain development as it is very rich in B-Complex Choline which is known to boost neurological functions and brain development

  v  Oily Fish - Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acid-rich fishes are very important brain foods. The brain uses Omega 3 to build brain and nerve cells which are vital for learning and memory. In later adult years, it slows down or prevents brain degeneration and memory decline diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Examples of Omega 3 fatty acid-rich fishes include:

      ·         Salmon

      ·         Sardines

      ·         Horse Mackerel, (Kote in Nigeria)                                                                                                        

      ·      Mackerel ( Titus in Nigeria)

      ·         Herrings (Shawa /Bonga Fish in Nigeria)                           

Tuna also contains omega-3 fatty acids, however, it is not included in this list because it contains mercury, with some of its species having a higher level than others. So if you are a Tuna fish lover, kindly do some research on its safety before consumption.

 

  v  Leafy Green vegetables: leafy green vegetables like Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, and Pumpkin leaf (ugu in the Nigerian parlance) are a good source of folate (folic acid). Garnishing your green vegetables with small chunks of fish, tomato sauce, and seasoning might be a good option to make it desirable to your kids especially if they don’t like eating vegetables.

 

  v  Nuts and seeds: this is another brain builder. Most nuts contain vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and proteins, and antioxidants which are needed by the brain for its development and function. Nuts also boost learning, memory, and concentration. Below is a list of some nuts that are very healthy for the brain. 

     ·         Walnuts: They contain DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) which protects brain health in newborns, Improves cognitive abilities as the child grows, and tackles degenerative brain diseases. It also helps to reduce stress.

     ·         Hazel nuts and Almonds: They contain Vitamin E (which possesses antioxidant properties) and prevent cognitive decline and improve memory.

     ·         Peanuts:  They contain Choline and Vitamin E, A, folic acid, etc. Research suggests that eating peanuts can help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease.

     ·         Pecan nuts: They contain choline and Vitamin E, A, folic acid, etc., and they prevent motor neuron degeneration.

     ·         Cashew nuts: They contain, Iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, etc. which help to increase oxygen flow to the brain.

     ·         Flax seed, Pumpkin seed, Sunflower seed, and, Sesame seed: These seeds contain Omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, several vitamins, and minerals, etc. which enhance memory, and helps the brain produce serotonin which is a very important neurotransmitter.

Researchers claim that walnut ranks topmost on the list of nuts that are beneficial to the brain,

 

  v  Oats:  Low glycemic index food like Porridge Oats also help to boost brain function because they balance blood sugar. They help to improve the concentration and focus of children, especially in school.

 

  v  Beans and lentils: Beans contain zinc which is very vital for brain development. Beans and legumes are also rich in Vitamin B and according to Integrative Medicine Physician, Irina Todorov, MD, Vitamin B plays a great role in the production of neurotransmitters which help in the transfer of signals between nerves.

 

  v  Fruits- although blueberries rank topmost on the list of brain fruits, banana which is rich in potassium, manganese, vitamin c, and fiber is another great fruit that promotes brain health. Other fruits include oranges, grapes, strawberries, blackcurrants, watermelon, etc.

 

Other foods that are good for your child’s brain include; avocado pear, black rice, tomatoes, rosemary, mint leaves, probiotic-rich yogurt (fermented yogurt), etc.

Before we conclude, here is a list of foods that kill your brain.

  Ø  Added sugar and sugary drinks,

  Ø  Alcohol.

  Ø  Food rich in trans-fat (fried food like chips).

  Ø  Highly processed food (baked products), like white bread. A better alternative is whole-meal bread.

  Ø  Canned Tuna, (it contains mercury and too much consumption of it can cause cognitive decline)

 

Conclusion.

Nutrition plays a very crucial role in the brain development of a child from conception to about 3 years, as this age bracket marks the formative years of the brain. So careful attention must be paid to the nutrition of children so that their brain gets the needed boost it requires to develop and function at optimum capacity.

 

Kindly drop a comment and let me know how valuable this information has been to you.