4 valuable nutrients for your baby's brain development.
From the first days of a child's life until they are 2 years old, their brain reaches 80% of the size of an adult brain. Therefore, this is a golden period for brain development.
Factors affecting children's intelligence
According to the National Institute of Nutrition, the development of intelligence in children depends on three factors: genetics (due to genes), nutrition, and training, learning, and living environment.
Numerous studies have shown that deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as protein, iodine, iron, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, can affect brain development in children.
Firstly, protein is the building material for cells, tissues, and organs, providing the necessary raw materials for the formation of digestive fluids, hormones, enzymes, and vitamins. A lack of protein will affect the development of the body in general and the brain in particular.
Secondly, iodine is a crucial factor. When food lacks iodine, the amount of iodine that passes through the mother's placenta to the fetus is insufficient for optimal brain development. Consequently, there is a risk of low iodine levels in breast milk, leading to impaired brain development and potentially causing cretinism due to hypothyroidism.
Thirdly, iron is crucial; numerous studies have shown that iron deficiency seriously affects brain development in childhood.
Fourth are long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. The brain is composed of up to 60% fat, with DHA and ARA being the main lipid components of the brain.
Associate Professor Dr. Le Bach Mai - former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition. Photo: HA
According to Associate Professor Dr. Le Bach Mai - former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, omega is an essential unsaturated fatty acid that the body cannot synthesize on its own and needs to be supplemented through the daily diet.
Especially for infants and young children, omega-3s help support brain development, improve eyesight, boost the immune system, protect cardiovascular health and blood pressure, help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, and maintain overall health for children.
Omega fatty acids are involved in the structure and function of the brain and individual nerve cells, especially the striatum of the cerebral cortex.
In addition, it is involved in the structure of synaptic membranes, which facilitate the faster transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. This helps children respond more quickly to environmental stimuli.
Omega fatty acids are derived from both animal and plant sources. Photo: HA
Nutrients play a crucial role in a child's brain development.
According to experts, the amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in the retina is quite high. Therefore, having sufficient omega-3 fatty acids will help children have better eyesight, allowing them to observe the world around them more, and supporting brain development.
Furthermore, many studies suggest that a diet supplemented with sufficient omega-3s can help children control their emotional intelligence (EQ), thus gradually helping them learn, improve, and develop their brains better.
If a child's daily diet doesn't meet their omega-3 needs, they may experience limited brain development and slower cognitive abilities. More seriously, this can lead to delayed speech, motor skills, poor eyesight, weakened immunity, and increased susceptibility to allergies, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases.
Associate Professor Dr. Le Bach Mai also added that omega-3 fatty acids mainly come from animals, shellfish, and plants. However, omega-3s of animal origin, such as those extracted from fish oil, have a fishy taste, making them difficult for young children to accept.
Notably, ALA (one of the three essential nutrients that play a crucial role in brain structure and function) is only found in plant-based omega fatty acids with an original, unflavored, non-GMO taste and color, making it safe for babies.
Dr. Le Minh Trac - Director of the Neonatal Care and Treatment Center, National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Photo: HA
Sharing the same view, Dr. Le Minh Trac - Director of the Neonatal Care and Treatment Center, Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (Hanoi), also advises that parents should supplement omega-3s from the early stages of life, especially from birth to the first three years, when the child's brain develops rapidly and dramatically.
The plant-based omega ALA has antioxidant properties and plays a crucial role in protecting nerve cells, maintaining learning ability, and memory performance. It also converts into DHA and EPA for the body when needed. According to Dr. Trac, young children's liver and kidney functions are not yet fully developed, so omega supplementation needs to be ensured to be easily absorbed by the child's body and minimize side effects.
Foods rich in omega-3s include mackerel, salmon, cod liver oil, walnuts, chia seeds, herring, flax seeds, tuna, anchovies, egg yolks, cashews, etc.
100g of mackerel contains 5,134mg of omega-3, 100g of salmon contains 2,260mg of omega-3, and 100g of herring contains 1,729mg of omega-3… Plant-based omega-3s are abundant in nuts and green vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, collard greens, cauliflower, and peas… 100g of spinach contains 138mg of omega-3 and 26mg of omega-6, while 100g of chia seeds contains 4,915mg of omega-3 and 1,620mg of omega-6.
