Can You Make Your Baby Smarter with Food?
By Sara Butler
Every parent thinks their child is a genius. They have to be smart because they are part of you! Parents are constantly looking for ways to nurture their children so they can develop and do their very best. Reading books, taking them to preschool, showing them educational videos – whatever works to give your pride and joy a developmental boost! You may be missing one very obvious way to give your child a leg up in the intellectual world with their diet. Here are a few foods that may help support their brain development.
Why Early Brain Support is Important
Babies are constantly growing and developing and that means they need more of everything. In fact, a baby at six months old needs four times the amount of zinc and nine times the amount of iron as an adult man does per day! Iron and zinc happen to play a huge role in the development of baby’s brain, so they’re pretty important. Yet 20 percent of children are deficient in these minerals, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Foods for Brain Development
These foods aren’t going to turn your baby into a genius but they will help to support proper brain development with the nutrients a baby’s brain needs. You should check with your pediatrician before starting anything new with your baby, of course, but once you get the green light you can try to introduce some of these foods to your baby’s diet in order to help the brain develop properly. Give them:
- Egg yolks – Eggs are a great source of Vitamin D, choline, and folate. Choline is incredibly important for the brain because it supports the synthesis of neurotransmitters. And folate contributes to a good memory. The fat in egg yolks is the good kind known as polyunsaturated. It also has important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids along with thiamin, Vitamin A, biotin, and riboflavin. Plus, babies love eggs!
- Fermented foods – You may not think about feeding your baby things such as sauerkraut, but it’s actually really good for them. Even small amounts of fermented vegetables and kefir can help to promote brain health and gut health -- and the connections between those two things are just beginning to be understood! The natural probiotics in fermented vegetables are good for your baby, so don’t leave them out!
- Fatty fish – Wild-caught salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids important in brain development. They also help to boost the immune system.
You need to make sure your child has the best possible start in life. One of the ways you can do that is through food, so make wise choices and teach them good habits!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Des Peres, Mo.