We all want the best for our children but not all of us are aware of how nutrition impacts the development of a healthy brain within our children. Here are some tips to developing the healthiest brains in our children so that they can function cognitively at their best.
Keep ‘Willy Wonka’ Days For Special Occasions
Most parents reserve sweets, chocolates and all sweet delights of the tastebuds for our children over weekends, at children’s parties or other special occasions. We are all aware of what sugar does to our children, the excess energy, the natural high, the “bouncing-off-the-walls” effect not to mention the weight gain, but does it go deeper than that?
Apparently, sugar creates imbalances in energy that can contribute towards:
Erratic Behavior
Hyperactivity
Mood Changes
It is not only sugar found in obvious things like cakes and biscuits that you should be aware of but also food containing:
Sucrose
Glucose
Malt
Dextrose
Sugar, Golden & Corn Syrup
Processed Honey
Besides sugar, something also to be aware of are additives like:
Artificial Colorings
Sweeteners
Preservatives
Flavorings
Tartrazine (E102)
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Caffeine
Sugar And Caffeinated Soft Drinks
It is common place that children who consume large amounts of sugar suffer from obesity, hyperactivity and malnutrition. An interesting experiment took place at Yale University where healthy children were given a sugary soft drink, after which blood tests were taken. They discovered that their adrenaline levels were five times higher than normal, and this effect lasted up to five hours.
It was noted that levels of anxiety and irritability increased in a number of children also which is extremely bad news for our children who are often struggling to concentrate in class, deal with social pressure as well as simply maturing and being children, which in itself offers a panoply of issues and challenges. A number of studies found that reducing sugar levels in school children actually halved the number of disciplinary actions in young offenders. Good to know!
Get Fat Into Their Bodies
We are not talking about the ‘syrup-dripping-off-a-pastry-fat’ but essential, healthy fats such as those found in avocados, salmon as well as pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds and more. Easy ways of getting your children to eat these is by baking gorgeous (carrot, for example) muffins, jam packed with seeds (you can ground these down to make them less visible!). They can be served with natural peanut butter or even avocado mixed with raw honey! Such healthy fats affect brain and nerve systems in a positive way helping with concentration, focus, and memory which ultimately leads to improvements in reading, writing and, apparently, ADHD.
Introduce Tasty, Healthy Meals
In short, the more natural, the better.
Introduce your children to “sweet” foods that are not sugar such as watermelon, mangoes, lychees and grapes.
Make healthy eating a natural ‘every meal’ occurrence and sit down at the table to eat, together as a family.
Get creative with food, even if it means cutting out salmon steaks with dinosaur shaped cookie cutters to entice them into eating what’s on their plate or creating faces with a variety of salad items.' Make fries using sweet potatoes and olive oil and cinnamon.
Steam broccoli and coat it with mozzarella cheese.
There are so many fun things to do and make to get your children interested in healthy eating and starting from a very young age is key to the diet they will adopt as they grow up. It just takes a bit of research, prep and planning but is so worth it! Quite naturally, these foods support a healthy brain and positive cognitive energy. So, get creative in the kitchen and have fun!
Assist With Supplements
Food can provide excellent nutrition and goodness. Alas, it is impossible to cram everything that is good for us into our bodies within a day, let alone a week. The obvious thing to do is to add
supplements where possible. A great trick with breakfast is to trickle Omega-3 oil over your child’s breakfast. As it is a very fishy taste, it can be masked with natural jams, raw honey or even coconut milk. This Research Verified review introduces a great range of supplements including Omega-3.
Be Aware Of Allergens
Allergens can potentially be very harmful to your child. From peanuts to gluten to dairy, there are certain foods out there that can be very dangerous to your children. If you suspect that your child may be allergic to something, the best way to find out is to visit a child nutritionist who will advise the best course of action. They are very likely to slowly introduce your children to certain food and monitor their reaction to this food over a week or more. If your child is allergic to certain foods not only could he ‘swell up’ and be affected by severe rashes but it could also affect cognitive functioning.
At the end of the day, better nutrition equals a healthier mind, and life for your child. We all want the best for our little ones. Instill healthy eating at a young and tender age and they will be more likely to have a longer, healthier life where they will be able to achieve and prosper allowing them to be happy and fulfilled, living a life being the very best that they can be.
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