How nutrition affects child development

How does Nutrition Influence a Child’s Development?

Do you find it hard to feed your children with nutritious food like fruits and vegetables? When this thought comes across your mind, it often slips off as though it does not really matter.

However, the fact of the matter is a child's development is highly dependent on their nutrient’s intake. ​

Before digging into the topic, let’s have a better understanding on what nutrients are and the importance of having a balanced nutritional diet.

Nutrients are compounds found in foods which are essential to health and life. Different nutrients have their own functions. Primarily, they provide energy, act as building blocks for growth and repair, and regulate chemical processes.

The human body cannot synthesize nutrients itself, thus we must obtain nutrients from our diet. Therefore, a balanced diet consisting of all the required nutrients in its appropriate amount is needed.

While many are aware that a balanced diet maintains a healthy weight, the advantages are more than just one's weight maintenance. Good nutrition is critical to improve a person's well-being and recovery from injury or illness. A well-balanced diet also lowers high cholesterol level and strengthens the immune system to fend off illnesses.

Good nutrition is always needed regardless of the age. Nevertheless, the preschool years, specifically ages ranging from three to five years old, are influential period to ensure a healthy child's development that lasts a lifetime.

Childhood is always the critical period for establishing healthy growth and development including physical, emotion and mental abilities. Hence, there is a significant scientific interest in influencing a child’s nutritional level since young to aid in their growth and development. 

Here are some facts all parents need to know about. 

1. Brain development
Quality nutrients are needed for brain development. All nutrients contribute their roles in brain development but certain nutrients have greater influences during the neonatal and late fetal time periods.

These include iron, protein, iodine, folate, selenium, vitamin A, choline, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. It has been proven that brain development is the most sensitive to an infant’s nutrition between mid-gestation and two years of age.

Due to this, newborn mothers should provide breast milk as it offers the ideal and best mix of nutrients for brain growth. Hence, parents do not have to worry about their children who do not eat vegetables and fruits at this early stage.  

2. Emotional health 
There is a misconception that nutrition level will not affect emotional health.

When it comes to our natural food intake, many have no idea what we are supposed to eat to regulate our emotion. Yet, nutrients such as vitamin B6, folate, and choline are critical in synthesizing neurotransmitters, a brain chemical, which regulate one’s memory and mood. Consequently, deficiency of these nutrients is associated with mood-related emotions like depression and anxiety.

Therefore, an increase in nutrient-rich food such as fish and legumes and a decrease in junk food consumption during a child’s development have a significant impact on their wellbeing and mood. Parents should also ensure their food intake consists of omega-3 fatty acid which helps in decreasing stress and mood disorders. 

3. Physical health
Healthy eating patterns with adequate nutrition is a good way to prevent malnutrition. Malnutrition includes under-nutrition or overnutrition, both of which play an important role to a child’s development with life-long effects. 

During childhood, under-nutrition can cause kids to have lesser energy and interest during learning, which negatively affects their cognitive development and academic performance. It also affects physical growth and maturation, and body height and weight.

Apart from that, obesity, a form of malnutrition, which is also known as overnutrition, is possible to have low nutrient-density along with high levels of fat and carbohydrate. Thus, malnutrition affects their competence and confidence during physical activity, showing how it can further deteriorate an established growth and development in kids. 

4. Behavioural development
Proper nutrition helps to develop well behavioural development in children.

However, it is unfortunate that many parents do not realize what their kids eat daily could impact their behaviour. For example, dairy consumption among children is related to hyperactivity. This means that some kids act out more than usual after eating foods with high dairy content such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Nevertheless, this does not indicate that parents are not allowed to provide their kids with foods containing dairy products. Instead, a regular consumption of dairy should be taken in place to avoid an imbalanced diet.

Although adjusting a kid’s diet might seem like an intimidating task at first, many parents will feel relieved when their child has positive changes in their behaviour according to a well-balanced nutrition.

Moreover, social behaviours have been proven to be more susceptible to the consequences of having poor nutrition. This is evident in children who had poor diets during the critical period from birth to two years old in how they appeared to be less active and withdrawn compared to their peers. 

Well... what is the takeaway? 

Parents are key individuals to their children's healthy growth and development. We cannot expect our children to eat healthy on their own accord, and this responsibility lies in parents. 

Parents must learn and know about healthy eating to help their children to grow with a well-balanced diet.

So, do train your kids well with all the nutrients they need since young. And of course, kids observe and imitate their parents' actions; hence, remember to always be a good role model with the type of food you consume in front of them. 

References
Gifford, B. E. (February 2020). Food for thought: Does what my kids eat affect their mental health? Retrieved from Happiful Magazine. https://happiful.com/food-kids-mental-health/

'Zero to Three'. (n.d.). How does nutrition affect the developing brain? Retrieved from https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1372-how-does-nutrition-affect-the-developing-brain

'Abbott Nutrition'. (January 2020). How nutrition can shape a child’s emotional well-being. Retrieved from https://www.nutritionnews.abbott/pregnancy-childhood/kids-growth/how-nutrition-can-shape-a-child-s-emotional-well-being/

Karratti, D. (December 2018). How poor nutrition affects child development. Hello Motherhood. Retrieved from https://www.hellomotherhood.com/how-poor-nutrition-affects-child-development-7850348.html

'Children's Bureau'. (May 2018). Importance of good nutrition for young children. Child Abuse Prevention, Treatment & Welfare Services. Retrieved from https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/importance-of-good-nutrition-for-young-children/

Understanding the Role of Nutrition in the Brain & Behavioral Development of Toddlers and Preschool Children: Identifying and Overcoming Methodological Barriers

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How nutrition affects the intelligence of a child

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Author: Vera Yakubson

January 20, 2022

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In the first years of a child's life, more than 1 million new neural connections appear every second. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes that the human brain develops throughout life, but the first 8 years can lay the foundation for future health, learning and success in general.

The formation and development of the brain is influenced by many different factors, among them the nutrients that the child begins to receive in the womb. We figure out what kind of nutrition is needed for the development of intelligence and how to provide it.

In order for the brain to develop, various nutrients must be supplied to the body. Here are the elements that are most actively involved in the formation of the brain:

In order for the brain to develop, various nutrients must enter the body. Here are the elements that are most actively involved in the formation of the brain:

• protein - found in meat, fish, eggs, legumes and nuts;
• zinc - meat, fish, dairy products and nuts;
• iron - meat, legumes, dark leafy vegetables;
• choline - meat, dairy products and eggs;
• folic acid - liver, spinach;
• iodine - seafood, seaweed, iodized salt;
• vitamin A - liver, carrot, spinach;
• vitamin D - oily fish and fortified foods;
• vitamin B6 - organ meats, fish, potatoes, fruits;
• vitamin B12 - meat, fish, eggs, dairy products;
• polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty fish and certain vegetable oils

Malnutrition refers to a lack of protein and calories, as well as a low amount of micronutrients in food. Lack of nutrition slows down the development of the child, including the formation of intelligence.

In 2020, 149 million children under 5 were stunted due to malnutrition. Growth retardation is associated with deterioration in the cognitive development of children. For example, a study of 40,000 Indian families found that non-malnourished children who are of normal height for their age are more likely to be able to write than their stunted peers.

Unlike general malnutrition, the impact of individual nutrient deficiencies on intelligence is not so obvious. The effects of iron, iodine, zinc, choline, B vitamins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids on brain development have been well studied in animals. Studies have shown that the lack of these substances slows down all the basic processes of brain formation.

Human studies of micronutrient deficiencies present ethical challenges. No one will specially not feed children, and if there is already a shortage, then usually there is not one, but several. In addition, the development of such children is almost always influenced by other factors: poverty, low education of parents, high levels of stress.

The effects of iron, iodine and zinc deficiency on cognitive development are best studied. Iron deficiency during fetal development and after birth leads to the formation of iron deficiency anemia. Research shows that children who were anemic before age 2 have cognitive retardation and poor school performance until age 19.

The baby's brain is still being formed in the womb, and her diet can affect the process.

Folic acid deficiency in the diet of a pregnant woman leads to malformations of the neural tube - the basis of the future brain.

Iron, iodine and vitamin D are elements that also affect intrauterine brain development. A lack of iodine can lead to cretinism, a deficiency of thyroid hormones, which leads to a delay in physical and mental development.

The need for nutrients during pregnancy is higher, so you need to pay extra attention to your diet. It is better to minimize "empty calories" - processed food, sweets and saturated fats.

If you have any doubts that you are getting enough micronutrients from your diet, you should discuss your diet and the need to take prenatal vitamins with your doctor.

The connection between breastfeeding and the development of the child's nervous system has been proven in numerous studies. A 2015 meta-analysis found that even after adjusting for maternal cognition, breastfed babies had a 2.62 higher IQ. Without this adjustment, the difference was 3.44 points.

Most studies use different versions of IQ tests to measure intelligence. These tests are not the ultimate truth, but they allow you to compare the results of mental activity of different people. Scientists also use academic performance to assess children's cognitive abilities.

Whether the duration of breastfeeding affects the child's intelligence is not yet clear. A 2012 Cochrane review found that the duration of breastfeeding (three, four or six months) does not affect a child's cognitive function. A 2018 review cites two studies that have shown that longer breastfeeding has a positive effect on children's IQ.

To assess the impact of nutrition on the intelligence of children, it is necessary to track their development over several years. To do this, scientists take data from longitudinal cohort studies - when they observe a large number of people for a long time. An example of such a study is ALSPAC, or Children of the Nineties. At the end of 1991 In early 1992, scientists from the UK enrolled 14,000 pregnant women. Scientists are still monitoring the children born then, collecting data on the influence of genetic and external factors on development and health.

A 2011 ALSPAC study found that a healthy diet at age 3 resulted in an IQ increase at age 8. 5. The healthy diet in this study included fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, and fish. In contrast, children who ate a lot of processed foods high in sugar and fat had lower IQs.

Useful substances are best obtained from food, and not in the form of dietary supplements. A balanced diet that includes all food groups provides enough macro and micronutrients for full brain development. The only exception may be vitamin D, which is very scarce in food. It is recommended to give it to children soon after birth as a supplement: according to American standards, 400-600 international units, according to Russian - 1000-1500.

Studies on the effectiveness of iodine, iron and other supplements on cognitive development show conflicting results. They are mainly effective for children with general malnutrition. Under normal conditions, they can have the opposite effect. For example, one study looked at the cognitive development of children who ate iron-fortified infant formula. Children who initially had low hemoglobin had higher IQs after 10 years, and children with high hemoglobin had lower ones.

The recipe for growing a genius has not been invented yet. But there are nutritional recommendations that will give the baby's brain the opportunity to develop to its full potential:

• Eat well during pregnancy; If there is a shortage, make up.
• Breastfeed if possible.
• Give your child vitamin D from birth.
• Feed your child a varied and regular diet that includes foods from the five food groups: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, and protein.
• If you can't get all the nutrients in your diet, talk to your doctor about taking vitamins.

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From childhood, we must teach our children to choose from the variety of foods that are really good for health. The nutrition of children is somewhat different from the nutrition of adults. If the child's nutrition system is built correctly, then the child develops normally, both physically and mentally.

Make your child's daily diet a way of life for your family. There is no need to arrange constant lectures from this on the topic of what is useful and what is harmful. By actively communicating with your child, setting an example, you instill good eating habits.

Only good things should be said at the table. The situation should help the child to relax, then the appetite will be good and the mood will be friendly. Children can help you with serving and decorating dishes. When serving vegetables and fruits, ask the children what vitamins and minerals they contain and why they are so useful. In order to organize the proper nutrition of the child, you need to follow a few important rules:

Rule 1

Diet should be varied.