{"id":3250,"date":"2016-09-11T07:03:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-11T07:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.helendoron.com\/?p=3250"},"modified":"2018-12-11T11:58:05","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T11:58:05","slug":"food-for-thought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helendoron.it\/massa\/food-for-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"Food For Thought"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"When it comes to malnutrition, people usually assume that it’s related to\u00a0low socio-economic status. Surprisingly, many children in developed countries are undernourished. But why? The problem is poor nutrition \u2014 diets based on fast foods and that are high in sugar, salt and bad fats. Children require a nutrient-rich diet to develop optimal brain function.<\/p>\n

A 2011 study<\/a> found that toddlers who ate a nutrient-rich diet full of fruits and vegetables had higher IQ scores compared to the toddlers who consumed processed foods full of fat and sugar. The foods eaten had a dramatic long term effect on the toddlers\u2019 brain function.<\/p>\n

Nutrition plays an important role in brain development from birth to adolescence. While the brain grows fastest in the early years of life, it continues to develop throughout adolescence. As such, a high nutrient diet is important to ensure adequate brain development.<\/p>\n

Begin before Birth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mothers who take care of their own nutrition, fitness and wellbeing during pregnancy are already giving their unborn children a head start in life. Breastfeeding mothers eating a high nutrient diet pass the nutrients on to their children, improving their children\u2019s cognitive development and overall health. In fact, children who are breastfed for at least six months have higher IQ scores than children who are raised on formula. Once solid foods are introduced, greater consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with higher IQ and better memory skills when children reach 4 years of age. In school-age children, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as increased cholesterol intake have been linked to diminished intelligence and poor academic performance.<\/p>\n

What Should Your Child Be Eating?<\/strong><\/p>\n