In children, a well-balanced diet enables genes to exert their potential effects on brain development in young children. This leads to strong cognitive, motor, and behavioral development. Dietician Fahmida Jafri explains more…

Brain Growth

All life processes are subject to the influence of biological and nurturing factors, tells Fahmida, and brain growth and development are no exception. She explains, “During fetal and early postnatal life, genetic determinants contribute to the establishment and maintenance of the central nervous system. However, 90 percent of the child’s brain development happens before the age of five.”

Important Minerals 

Genes predict our brain development, but Fahmida tells that it’s the environment that sculpts it. “The brain is a complex organ of the human body whose specialized functions are always in need of certain important nutrients such as folic acid, iron, zinc, fats, and iodine,” she explains. “Vitamin A unlocks the most powerful functions of the human brain, which is learning.”

Fatty acids like DHA, she points out, are highly needed for fetal brain development during the third trimester of gestation as two-thirds of the brain is composed of fats.

Also, the inclusion of ALA (Alpha Linoleic Acid), rich dietary sources in a child’s diet, may help in improving spatial awareness and motor skills. Another important mineral needed for the developing brain is iron, notes Fahmida. “It supports learning and memory in children,” she says, and in fact, an iron deficiency in infants may lead to sleep disorders, wariness, and paucity of movement. It can lead to low attention and concentration in children from two to seven years of age. Also, inadequate iron in diet causes low digit span, visual memory, and low mathematical performance in the concrete stage of children’s life.

Iodine is another, which Fahmida explains is essential for the normal functioning of thyroid gland, which in turn regulates the metabolism and IQ. Iodine deficiency disorders are the most common cause of preventable mental retardation and learning disabilities in children.

Another neglected emerging nutrient for good memory is vitamin K. It protects the brain from oxidative damage and is involved in metabolism of brain cell membrane. Therefore, she suggests early intervention of ‘neuro friendly’ nutrients in the diet can help in promoting cognitive, socio-emotional development as well as scholastic performances in children. She elaborates, “In a nutshell, some of the nutrient dense foods good for brain development are organic eggs, oily fish, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, avocados, and mushrooms.”

(Credit: Dietician Fahmida Jafri, Thumbay Hospital, Ajman)