Healthy Eating and Brain Development
Axia College of University of Phoenix
Healthy brain development has a direct relationship with proper nutrition. Toddler’s need a well balanced diet that will help with their brain development and achievement for the future. Poor nutrition before birth and the first few years of life can lead to neurological and behavioral disorders. For children under the age of two, healthy eating has a positive impact on the development of their brains. Healthy eating and nutrition plays an important role in the brain development of young children; improving their motor skills, academics, and immune system.
In order to understand why healthy nutrition in young children is so crucial we also need to
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Meanwhile, new evidence shows that early intervention has beneficial results. The results of a 40 year study showed that researchers looked at the long-term effects of providing nutritional supplements to infants through 36 months. The researchers found that the women and men who received the supplements had better reading comprehension and nonverbal cognitive skills as adults. (Hoddinott, 2008) The participants in this program had an average of “US $0.67 in man hourly wages, which translated into a 46 percent increase in average wages.” (Hoddinott, 2008) For individuals that received supplements at the age of three and older no increase was observed. Additionally, as parents, we need to educate our children from a young age on how important it is to eat a proper diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods rich in calcium and a variety of proteins. As parents we need to set a good example ourselves if we want our children to practice eating a healthy diet to enrich their learning abilities and how properly to exercise. It is important to introduce children to a wide variety of healthy choices while they are young and help them enjoy those choices. For example make the new fruit or vegetable fun to eat when introducing the food. Some parents will put
When children do not eat a healthy meal, their concentration and energy become more difficult to manage. The “Journal of School Health” issued a study in 2008 about the eating behaviors of approximately 5,000 school children. The research showed that children who ate more fruits and vegetables, accomplished higher grades on tests compared with children who consumed a high-fat, high-salt diet
Nutrition is a key component of an individual’s healthy well being. Many factors have a significant effect on nutrition and it is important to continuously maintain a balanced one. Having a good nutrition is one of the main defenses for an innumerous amount of illnesses and diseases that can harm the body. One would ask, “What is nutrition per say, and how do we maintain the balance of it?” Nutrition is defined as “the sum of the processes by which [a living thing] takes in and utilizes food substances.” (Merriam-Webster, 2011). It is the responsibility of each individual to assure the consumption of enough nutrients to nourish the body and to be cautious of harmful toxins. A child is dependent on their guardian on being taught how
Nutrition is important to understand because it is a significant contributor to the health and wellness of a human being. Nutrition can determine the weight of a person, the performance of organs and the body’s ability to prevent or accelerate certain diseases. Health and nutrition can be influenced by several factors such as family, friends, peers as well as physical and mental stress. As a young child, the immediate family is the biggest influence on nutrition because they are the first role models and establish the initial habits that the individual will develop. Through daily meal plans given to children, they can develop a standard of care in regard to nutrition and then incorporate key food groups into their daily diet. A child’s
Children and young people’s health and development is closely linked to their dietary choice as they need the right amount of nutrients necessary to keep their energy and to maintain the body for growth, tissue repair, healthy skin, hair and teeth, red blood cells and strong immune system.
Heart disease, stroke, and death are just some of the symptoms of eating unhealthy food. Eating behaviors develop during the first few years of children 's lives. Children learn what to eat by observing other eating behaviors. Eating healthy food during infancy and toddler years is extremely important because the child observes the eating behaviors of their care giver or parent. Some benefits of giving your child healthy food at a you g age are, nutrients, vitamins, and energy.Adults and parents play an important role in children eating healthy because they choose the food choices for their families or themselves. Schools also play an important role in eating healthy food because they use certain strategies like having a
Diet: The food children and young people eat makes a difference to growth and the ability to keep healthy and well. Children's ability to concentrate and learn is known to be made possible by the provision of a good diet. This makes it an important area of debate.
This can be done by relating a healthy diet to activities which the child enjoys and recognizes. If a child asks why they should eat broccoli, one can answer by explaining that eating broccoli gives you more energy to run and jump. Because playing is an activity which children tend to enjoy, they will then relate the healthy food choice of ‘broccoli’ with pleasure. At all times a child ‘must be supported in developing and understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food’(EYFS (2007) in Macleod – Brudenell, 2008, p70)
A major part of any culture is food and dining, and children are a part of that. Children often lose some of their appetite between ages two and six, and because parents worry, bad food habits are put into place. Sugary foods are offered if a child finishes a meal, and many foods have vitamins and nutrients added. However iron, zinc, and calcium are seen to be deficient because juices and sodas are replacing milk, and cereals and processed foods replace fresh fruits and vegetables (Berger, 2006). It is also hard to maintain good eating habits during this age, because children often
Fruits and vegetables have a very essential role in our diet. Studies have shown the importance of sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption in stopping chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and obesity. According to 2000 report, “2.7 million deaths and 1.8% all diseases worldwide could be attributed to inadequate F&V intake” (Najimi, 2013). Starting to eat well when young is important. Research has proven that interventions at a young age can impact good behavior such as good nutritional habits that get carried on into adulthood. Furthermore, ages 7 to 12 is when a child should get nutrients for growing. Therefore, the significance of a child’s nutrition becomes more of a need than ever (Najimi, 2013). Examples of the benefits of kids eating healthy when young are good mental activities, prevention of problems and complications like anaemia, obesity, digestive disorders, and tooth decay and chronic and dangerous diseases in the long term (Najimi, 2013).
Healthy eating is important from the day we are born. As a child, we grow quite rapidly and this is due in part to the foods we eat. Foods all contain nutrients that provide us not only
Good nutrition is one of the best ways we know to aid in healthy brain development. It is important that families provide an environment that supports health in both lifestyle and nutrition. Good nutrition is important for both the pregnant mother and the infant. Pregnant mothers need appropriate amounts of folic acid and iron, and should avoid nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drugs throughout their entire pregnancy. The developing brain craves iron.
Heath is of the utmost importance in raising a child, and is the biggest factor of a child’s physical development in middle childhood. When a child is receiving the proper nutrition he or she needs, they grow at the
Foods and their nutrients are essential to life. In the beginning years of life an infant’s nutritional health depends on the family unit. Parents must have knowledge of the changing food needs of the child and must also have sufficient resources to provide food, shelter, and clothing for the family. Equally important, parents create the cultural and psychological environment that influences the
It is imperative for children to develop with healthy nutrition during their first five years of life in order to sustain a healthy well being. When a child experiences stunted growth, they often have difficulties learning and
The effects of nutrition can begin before birth, with the nutrition of the mother. Under nutrition can result in negative effects of the development of the brain that can become permanent and irreversible. One example is the lack of iron, which is a necessary part of the brain’s tissue. When iron deficiency is present nerve impulses tend to move slower. “Iron deficiency…is associated with behavior changes and delayed psychomotor development” (Nutrition and Cognitive Development, 2001), as well as decrease attention span, irritability, fatigue, and difficultly with concentration. “ Anemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders in the world, affecting nearly one