Myths about brain food

Nutrition plays a crucial role in child development and certain nutritional habits, if not corrected, may be to the detriment of the child’s overall growth. It should be noted that a child’s brain development is greatly stimulated by the food he eats. Even while in the womb, the quality and kind of food he is fed by his mother has an impact on his future growth.

There are several myths on a child’s nutritional habits, which greatly affect his brain development. Certain beliefs on what brain food baby should be given as he grows should be given a second look. Are we feeding him right? How do these foods affect his development? Consider these common myths on child development and nutrition (References: Tamborlane, William M.D., 1998, The Yale Guide to Children’s Nutrition; Coleman, Naomi, 2003, How to Keep your Child’s Brain Nourished):

MYTH: An infant’s diet should be fat-free because it may cause him to be fat later on.

FACT: Not true. A child under the age of two must not be placed on a low-fat diet because at this time, he needs fat to fuel the rapid development of his body and brain. Consider health-enhancing fats such as those found in certain fruits like avocado or in milk.

MYTH: Carrots help a child see in the dark.

FACT: To a certain extent yes, because carrots are high in vitamin A. Research shows that the first sign of deficiency is night blindness and letting your child take foods rich in vitamin A will help his vision. Another alternative is if he takes milk with clinically proven levels of DHA and ARA. According to researches taking milk with clinically proven levels of DHA and ARA can help both his mental and visual development.

MYTH: Foods with glucose (sugar) should be discouraged.

FACT: Not true. Truth is, a child’s brain depends on glucose for fuel (Reference: Children’s Nutrition Research Center, USA). Glucose-deficiency can weaken a child’s cognitive abilities and lessen his attention span. A bowlful of breakfast cereals is a healthy start because it contains sugar (glucose).

MYTH: You should force a picky eater to finish his meal.

FACT: Research has shown that this is a no-no. Forcing a child to eat when he isn’t hungry is a sure way to encourage feeding problems in the future. Instead, why not make mealtime a more enjoyable and creative endeavor for your child? It is said that the best way to prevent feeding problems is to teach the child how to feed himself early on. For example, provide him with healthy choices, foods like potatoes or squash at mealtime; in doing so, you develop the left side of his brain by allowing him to identify and name his food choice. Similarly, he can also develop the right side of his brain by being more aware of the food choices around him, allowing for better awareness and discovery.

A baby’s brain can get the right nourishment with the help of two important nutrients: Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Arachidonic Acid (ARA), basic building blocks which have an impact on his mental and visual development.

Nowadays, it is important to make healthy food choices for your growing child, but this should also be coupled with accurate nutritional habits. Remember that the common myths we have been accustomed to must be dismissed so that in the end, we are able to nurture our children with the best care they deserve.