Heart

Sugar is the main energy ingredient used by every cell in the body. Sugar is also the main food of the brain, so if there is not enough sugar in the brain, all nervous activity will be disrupted, including the ability to think, remember or learn new things. Instead of being deficient, many are currently experiencing excess sugar due to frequent eating of sweet foods. Though this will also damage the work of the brain. This bad impact will also occur to the child if the mother during pregnancy eats too much sweet food.

Pregnant women who have excess sugar, make the child's brain ability decrease

A study written in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that excessive sugar consumption in pregnant women actually has an impact on the brains of the babies they are carrying.

This research was conducted by 1234 mothers and their children whose development was followed from pregnancy, to the toddler years (average 3 years), then followed again until an average age of 7-8 years.

This research also looked at how the consumption of sugar and sugary foods during pregnancy is related to the cognitive abilities of the baby, until children aged 7-8 years.

At the end of the study, it was found that excess sugar in pregnant women, mostly caused by consuming sweet drinks or foods, has a greater potential to interfere with fetal brain development. On the other hand, mothers who get sugar from fruit actually have children with better cognitive abilities.

In addition, this study also found that consumption of diet soda in pregnant women can cause a decrease in fine motor skills and verbal abilities in children. Fine motor skills are abilities related to physical skills that involve muscles and eye-hand coordination. For example, the movement of folding paper, arranging blocks, making lines.

Why does excess sugar in pregnant women have an impact on the ability of the child's brain?

In fact, too much sugar intake can affect the function of the hippocampus and certain parts of the brain cortex that are being formed in the mother's stomach. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that regulates memory and is associated with learning abilities. Therefore, consumption of sugar that is too high ultimately affects the cognitive development of children as a whole.

In order to function normally, the brain also needs vitamins and minerals, which are obtained from food and drink. If you don't get enough of these nutrients, your brain won't function properly.

Eating too much sugar can damage or destroy brain cells. Too much sugar can also interfere with communication between nerve cells in the brain, brain cell activity and ultimately increase the risk of cognitive problems and disorders related to other brain diseases.

Then what should be done so that you don't have excess sugar?

Controlling excess sugar from both granulated sugar, sugar in drinks, sugar from these foods should not be forgotten. Of course there is no way you can avoid sugar altogether. The study reiterates that indulgence, especially in sugary foods or drinks can have a lasting negative impact on children's brains, especially in terms of memory (memory) and learning abilities.

For those of you who want to try eating healthy foods, during pregnancy don't forget:

Eat a varied diet

When pregnant, don't stick with just one type of food. Your diet must be complete every day, consisting of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

The body of pregnant women has needs that increase up to 2 times, therefore pregnant women must meet all their needs through a variety of foods.

If you want to eat sweet, choose healthy sources

Don't make sugary drinks and eating sweet snacks a habit. If you really want something sweet, choose fruit that is eaten directly.

Even if you want it to be juiced, as much as possible avoid the added sugar or thick sweet creamer. It's up to you what kind of fruit you can choose, from dragon fruit, mango, orange and others.

Stop choosing sugary drinks

If you are thirsty, make it a habit to drink water without calories. The drinks are available even though it says "less sugar"Still contains sugar, especially what does not. So, don't make drinking sweet drinks to get rid of thirst as a habit.