Table of contents:
- The role of nutrition in supporting children's brain development
- How to meet the nutritional needs of the brain every day
- Growth milk to help meet daily nutritional intake
All children have the right to have optimal growth and development and of course the parents want this to be experienced by the baby. For this reason, there are several things that need to be considered, one of which is the brain development of early childhood.
The main factor and should not be overlooked is how important nutrition is to a child's brain. Good brain development includes several abilities or skill children with age, such as cognitive, social, and emotional abilities.
Then, how do you meet nutritional needs to support child development? Check out the following reviews.
The role of nutrition in supporting children's brain development
Based on a 2017 study that examines the importance of nutrition for children's brain development in the first 1000 days of life, it is stated that the structure and capacity of the brain are formed before the child turns 3 years old. Thus, parents need to optimize this period by providing adequate nutritional intake every day.
Nutrition is an important factor that can support children's learning and concentration abilities. Why? First, adequate nutrition can support your child's immune system or immune system so that he doesn't get sick easily. Thus, children can continue to receive as well as stimulate to train their brain abilities.
Second, there are foods that are included in the "brain food"Because it has a proven content to support children's brain development.
How to meet the nutritional needs of the brain every day
For newborns, breast milk is the best source of nutrition which includes a variety of ingredients for optimal growth and development. The process of exclusive breastfeeding is also not only a source of nutrition, it also makes the relationship between mother and baby well-established due to direct contact.
As we get older, various foods will certainly be introduced one by one. This is when parents need to pay attention to healthy and balanced food, one of which can support children's brain development.
Reporting from health.harvard.edu, there are nutrients along with good food sources to provide nutrition for the child's brain. The following include:
- Protein. It can be found in red or white meat, seafood, nuts and seeds, eggs, soy products, and milk.
- Zinc. Maybe not many people know, but the foods richest in zinc are oysters. However, zinc can also be obtained by consuming meat, fish, milk and its preparations and seeds.
- Iron. Meat, nuts and seeds, leafy greens and baked potatoes are some of the best sources of iron.
- Vitamin A.. Can be obtained from foods such as animal kidneys (liver), carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
- Vitamin D. The best source of this vitamin is sunlight. However, salmon and some types of growth milk also contain this one vitamin.
In addition, it was previously discussed that nutrition for the immune system is also important so that children do not fall sick easily so that children's brain development can continue. The foods in question are those that contain fiber and prebiotics.
According to a 2017 study, the microbiota in the gut plays an important role in a child's immune system. Well, fiber and prebiotics are useful for maintaining the population and the role of the microbiota or so-called "good bacteria" in the intestines of children.
Growth milk to help meet daily nutritional intake
Providing various types of food is a step that parents must take for children's brain development. However, sometimes there are several factors that make this difficult. This is where the role of growth milk can help increase children's nutrition every day.
However, you should not arbitrarily choose growth milk for children. Choose those that contain various nutrients that have been mentioned earlier or that have the same benefits.
For example, there is growth milk that contains beta-glucan, PDX: GOS and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids in it.
It should be noted, based on a 2014 study on children's growing milk, the content of GOS has a role like one of the ingredients in breast milk, which is vital for supporting digestive health and immunity. It can be said that PDX: GOS acts the same as prebiotics in the child's body.
Beta-glucan also plays a role in the immune system or immune system of children. Research in 2015 shows that beta-glucan intake is beneficial for children's physical endurance and improves children's immunity from respiratory problems.
Then, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are also important for optimizing early childhood brain development. These fatty acids can also be found in growing milk for children and not without reason.
According to a journal published in the Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, omega-3/6 fatty acid supplementation can help reduce ADHD symptoms (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or mental disorders that make it difficult to focus, improve children's reading, spelling, concentration, and behavior skills.
Basically, the nutritional needs of children that can be met every day are eating a balanced healthy diet. Growth milk can be given to help meet this need.
You can consult a doctor for more information about the fulfillment of this nutrient or when choosing a growth milk that suits your child's needs. Now, after knowing the importance of nutrition for children's brains, now is the time to learn more about PDX: GOS and beta glucan here.
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