samlak
Good Nutrition with less sugar and fatty foods is important for the helathy development of our children.
As parents, we tend to always stuff our kids with various food. New parents are especially very guilty of this. We want them to grow up very strong and healthy, and because of this, we feed them not minding if the meals cut across all the six classes of food to make a balanced diet.
Studies by some Nutritionists and Dieticians in Nigeria shows that 78.5% of parents feed their children more with fatty foods and carbohydrates. However, parents need to take caution here.A new study cautions that fatty foods inhibit the development of a child’s brain so much that it might cause mental illness and mental disorders.
Fatty foods comes in different forms, from unsaturated forms like nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and seafoods. Other ones in solid form like animal foods like meat, coconut, palm out and butter. According to the research, large amounts of sugar and fat reduces the levels of reelin (a very key protein in the body), which is important in joining neurons.
The brain’s function slows down without reelin and this greatly interrupts a child’s behaviour and memory. According to one of the researchers, Urs Meyer, from ETH Zurich, (A Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics University in Switzerland.), “These changes from a young age on-wards are more the result of the fatty foods themselves, and the impact they have on young brains, rather than arising from the mere fact of being obese.”
Also, lead author of the study, Marie Labouesse, noted that, “The quality of the food eaten by teenagers may also be particularly important for an optimal maturation of the prefrontal cortex. “Our findings that high-fat diets during adolescence disrupt functioning of the adult pre-frontal cortex suggest that a careful nutritional balance during this sensitive period is pivotal for reaching the full capacity of adult pre-frontal functions.” The findings reveal how unhealthy foods and fatness are associated to the growth of neurological conditions. Researchers also say deficiency in reelin causes brain disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Instead of eating all these fatty foods, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, coconut oil, potatoes are better options. Eggs, water, almond, oranges, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate are also good for your child’s brain.
Introduce these healthy foods to your children as a daily meal and snack for school and lunch packs.
