PARENTAL NUTRITION/ CHILD’S NUTRITION AS A FACTOR AFFECTING A CHILD’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BEING. A PAPER PRESENTED AT OPINIONS FROM AFRICA RESEARCH DEPARTMENT’S (#ResearchwithPet) ONLINE CONFERENCE ON THE THEME PARENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING CHILD’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. HOST- JIDECHUKWU ANGELA NWABUEZE.
By Pharm. Udoka Pearl Chimelumeze
Thursday June 18, 2020
INTRODUCTION
The statement “you are what you eat” is significant for the development of optimum mental performance in children as evidence is accumulating to show that nutrition pre-birth and in early life “programs” long term health, well being, brain development and mental performance and that certain nutrients are important to this process. The brain takes a long time to mature, and early deficiencies may have far-reaching effects. So, early nutrition is most important.
There are some questions in the topic that require answers. The questions and their answers are as follows;
How does the food a pregnant mother eats affect the child’s cognitive development?
Certain foods have been proven to positively affect a baby’s memory and capacity to learn, and others can hinder it. Here’s how to improve baby brain development during pregnancy through diet that is the role of balanced diet in a child’s cognitive development;
- Taking a prenatal vitaminwill help ensure that the pregnant womangets the balance of nutrients the baby needs, like folic acid and vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, vitamin C to produce collagen, vitamin D for bone building, and zinc for brain development. If the vitamin upsets her stomach, she shouldn’t just ditch it: She should try taking it with a meal, or talking to her doctor about switching brands.
- Fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA, may boost a baby’s brain power. In a study from Harvard Medical School, the more fish women ate during the second trimester, the higher their babies scored on a mental-development test at 6 months of age. Omega-3s are found in brain-cell membranes, so there are plenty of ways they can influence brain function, says Lisa Eliot, PhD, assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, in Chicago. If a pregnant woman doesn’t like fish, she should talk to her doctor about taking a fish-oil supplement.Fish is good for the baby’s brain, but you do need to take a few precautions. Mercury contamination in some fish may be harmful. The Food and Drug Administration advises all pregnant women to avoid shark, tilefish, king mackerel, and swordfish completely, since they contain the highest levels. Some lower-mercury options: salmon, catfish, Pollack, whitefish, tilapia, and shrimp. Even with these varieties, you should limit all fish to 12 ounces (about two meals) per week. And opt for canned light tuna over canned white albacore, which has more mercury.
- Fruits and Vegetables contains antioxidants, which are good for the baby. “Antioxidants protect the baby’s brain tissue from damage,” says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy. Choose deep-coloured produce – like dark leafy greens, papaya, blueberries, and tomatoes – for the biggest antioxidant punch. Just remember to wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, even fruits that have a rind (since cutting it will drag germs through the flesh).
- Avoid Alcohol: Though foetal alcohol syndromeis associated with heavy alcohol abuse during pregnancy, even moderate amounts of beer, wine, or liquor can harm a baby’s brain, according to the March of Dimes. Light to moderate drinking can lead to problems with learning, attention, memory, and social skills down the road.
- Boost Protein: a pregnant mother’s body needs more protein to build cells and make hormones for the growing baby. In fact, the protein intake must jump by 10 extra grams per day. Some good protein boosters: a yogurt smoothieat breakfast, a cup of bean soup at lunch, peanut butter on whole-grain crackers for a snack, or a 3-ounce portion of lean beef (tenderloin and sirloin are good choices) at dinner.
- The iron intakeneeds to double during pregnancy, since iron helps deliver life-sustaining oxygen to the baby. Trouble is, many women enter pregnancy already deficient, says Somer. If the baby’s deprived of oxygen in the womb, the risk of poor growth and lower IQ increases. A pregnant mother should go to the hospital to test for iron deficiency. Then she should make sure that her diet includes iron-rich foods like lean beef, chicken, legumes, and fortified breakfast cereal.
- A pregnant mother is eating for two, but packing on too many pounds during pregnancy ups the chances of a premature delivery– and babies born early may be at a disadvantage when it comes to learning. “Premature delivery is one of the greatest risk factors for mental impairment,” says Dr. Lise Eliot. “There’s a strong link between birth weight, IQ score, and school achievement.” What’s the connection? Babies born early miss out on the unique nourishment that the placenta provides, are exposed to stimuli they’re normally protected from in the womb, and are more vulnerable to infection.
Does the child’s nutrition after birth affect the child’s cognitive development?
The answer… of course it does.. Children can be picky eaters. For many parents, picturing a toddler stubbornly throwing a piece of vegetable to the floor in disgust is easy, after all, it’s an all too familiar scene. However tiring it might be, it’s important that you find ways to convince your child to eat that piece of vegetable, as studies show that having a balanced and nutritious diet directly impacts all aspects of a child’s growth and development.
The relationship between nutrition, health and learning is undeniably strong: nutrition is one of the three major factors that impact a child’s development. As genes and environment are the other two factors, eating a certain food cannot guarantee that your child will be smarter, although my mother did successfully teach (trick) me to eat fish when I was little for that very reason. Nevertheless, research studies show that nutrition in a child’s early years is linked to their health and academic performance in later years.
Under-nutrition of a breastfeeding mother will likewise negatively impact a child’s development, especially in the first 6 months when breast milk is all he/she is consuming. For all soon-to-be and new mothers, it’s worth making sure you’re consuming a healthy and balanced diet full of the vital nutrients that both you and your child need: carbohydrates, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C and D. Although at first glance this list seems overbearing, realistically you probably consume most of these nutrients already, it’s just about following the right proportions.
Is it really that important for children to be consuming all of the above nutrients though? The short answer: yes. Breastfeeding by mothers following nutritious diets leads to fewer and less severe cases of illnesses among their childrenincluding diarrhoea, ear infection and bacterial meningitis (inflammation of the meninges). Also, since iron is a vital component of brain tissue, iron deficiency makes nerve impulses move slower and may cause permanent damage to a child’s brain, especially in the first two years of his/her life. However, too much iron also presents problems. As my mother wisely often tells me, “the key is to find the middle way”. Under-nutrition has been proven to decrease a child’s activity levels, social interactions, curiosity and cognitive functioning. Although parents everywhere probably harbour the wish that their child wasn’t quite so hyperactively jumping on their bed at 6am, good nutrition remains a must.
It seems bizarre to think that what your child consumes at, say, 4 months will affect their learning ability years later. Research has proven this true. Throughout their early childhood, it’s important to monitor your child’s nutrient intake for the sake of their later performance. For instance, breastfeeding appears to lead to higher IQ, while iron deficiency correlates with reduced cognition and achievement at school age. More obviously to the layman, since under-nourished children get sick more often, they miss more school and fail to keep up with peers. Research has made the link even clearer: school-age children who eat breakfast do better in tests than those that go without.
When there’s work to go to, bills to pay and dishes to wash, getting your child to eat what they don’t want to (especially when doing so might cause a much-dreaded tantrum) is oftentimes the least of your worries. But it’s critically important. Following nutrition guidelines is relatively straightforward during pregnancy, as well as at the start of your child’s life. When your child starts to form likes and dislikes, my advice to you is to accept preferences but continue to introduce new foods by making silly faces and playing peek-a-boo until you hear that giggle and see your toddler happily putting the spoon into their mouth themselves. Persevere. I promise he/she will thank you one day.
Are certain learning disabilities such as dyslexia and other disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy ADHD caused by parental/child’s nutrition?
Maternal malnutrition can affect the development of the fetus, cause intra-uterine growth delay and increase the risk of the infant developing impairments.Recent research suggests that not taking in enough Vitamin D and Calcium is causing all sorts of illnesses, such as ADHD, Asperger’s, autism, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia. One thing all of these conditions have in common is a lack of Vitamin D in their systems, causing a child’s development to slow down. It’s important to regularly monitor your child’s intake of healthy fruits and vegetables while testing to see if their bodies are not absorbing enough of what they need for proper development.
One pieceof new evidence coming to light from Oxford University, is how an imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help cause dyslexia.Their study gathered evidence from a group of dyslexic and non-dyslexic adults and measured the fatty acids in their body. The results were published in European Neuropsychopharmacology in January of 2007, showing that the people with the larger amounts of those necessary omega-3 fatty acids actually had a greater reading comprehension than those who had more omega-6. The average American diet is stuffed full of omega-6 acids, which causes the imbalance. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in flax seed, cold water fish (tuna and salmon), and walnuts. Avoid some foods in omega-6 acids like different kinds of cooking oils such as, sunflower, corn oil, soybean, safflower, and canola. There is also a variety of different supplements you can take to improve your omega-3 intake.
Infants and young children who are malnourished as defined by underweight (low weight-for-age) and stunting (low height-for-age) are also more likely to screen positive for disability.
What is the impact of genetics on children’s IQ?
Researchers have conducted many studies to look for genes that influence intelligence. Many of these studies have focused on similarities and differences in IQ within families, particularly looking at adopted children and twins. These studies suggest that genetic factors underlie about 50 percent of the difference in intelligence among individuals. Other studies have examined variations across the entire genomes of many people (an approach called genome-wide association studies or GWAS) to determine whether any specific areas of the genome are associated with IQ. These studies have not conclusively identified any genes that have major roles in differences in intelligence. It is likely that a large number of genes are involved, each of which makes only a small contribution to a person’s intelligence.
Recommendations of proper diet forchildren that could aid cognitive development
By giving your child a healthy balanced diet, you are ensuring that they are getting all the essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that children need for healthy growth and development. There 7 foods can help kids stay sharp and affect how their brains develop well into the future. They include;
- Eggs: The protein and nutrients in eggs help kids concentrate, says Los Angeles-based chef Beth Saltz, RD.You can try serving egg salad sandwiches or a few deviled eggs.
- Greek yogurt: Fat is important to brain health, says Laura Lagano, RD. A full-fat Greek yogurt (which has more protein that other yogurts) can help keep brain cells in good form for sending and receiving information.
- Greens: Full of folate and vitamins, spinach and kale are linked to lower odds of getting dementia later in life. Kale is a super food, packed with antioxidants and other things that help new brain cells grow.
- Fish: Fish is a good source of vitamin D and omega-3s, which protect the brain from declining mental skills and memory loss. Salmon, tuna, and sardines are all rich in omega-3s.”The more omega-3s we can get to the brain, the better it will function and the better kids will be able to focus,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It.
- Nuts and seeds: Packed with protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, nuts and seeds may boost mood and keep your nervous system in check.
- Oatmeal: Protein- and fiber-rich oatmeal helps keep heart and brain arteries clear. In one study, kids who ate sweetened oatmeal did better on memory-related school tasks than those who ate a sugary cereal.
- Apple and Plums: Kids often crave sweets, especially when they’re feeling sluggish. Apples and plums are lunchbox-friendly and contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may fight decline in mental skills.
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