Our brains literally run on nutrients, according toLisa Mosconi,a neuroscientist and director of the Weill Cornell Women’s Brain Initiative. As we age, brains need different nutrients and early childhood is a critical time for brain growth, development and health. Scientists have found around 45 nutrients that are key to brain health and the trick is getting kids to eat foods that are rich in the good stuff.
“Starting early is key,” saysClaire McCarthy, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. “If all a child has ever known is healthy foods, they’re far less likely to fight with their parents about eating them.”
So what should we be feeding our little ones to boost their brain development? Here’s what the experts recommend:
- Berries- They’re bursting with vitamin C, which Mosconi says is important for the formation of neurotransmitters, the chemicals used for signaling in the nervous system.
- Plums- This fruit is a great source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which can help regulate mood. Keeping your kid’s brain supplied with tryptophan will help them sleep at night, when our brains rest and repair themselves.
- Sweet potatoes- They’re packed with vitamin A, which is essential to brain health. Plus, sweet potatoes are tasty and versatile, so kids are more likely to eat them.
- Fish- Cold-water fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel and sardines, are high in a type of omega-3 fat called DHA, which is important for building nerve cells that are responsible for healthy brain growth and development, as well as learning skills.
Source:National Geographic