Food for thought: Good food makes big brains.
Let’s get a little science-y for a minute. Good nutrition, including appropriate amounts of both macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and protein) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), is important for your baby's overall development, including brain development. These nutrients help provide cell membrane structure, regulate metabolism, and supply energy. For example, most cells in the body, especially those in the brain, use the carbohydrate glucose as the primary source of energy. Here's a brief description of how some of these nutrients work.
Let’s get a little science-y for a minute. Good nutrition, including appropriate amounts of both macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and protein) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), is important for your baby's overall development, including brain development. These nutrients help provide cell membrane structure, regulate metabolism, and supply energy. For example, most cells in the body, especially those in the brain, use the carbohydrate glucose as the primary source of energy. Here's a brief description of how some of these nutrients work.
- Carbohydrates supply food energy for growth, body functions, and activity in addition to allowing protein and fats to be used efficiently and normally.
- Fats supply more than twice the energy of carbohydrates or protein to power growth and functionality. The fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are considered essential because our body cannot make them. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids are building blocks for arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively which are important for brain and eye development.
- Proteins help develop, maintain, and repair new tissues throughout the body, including in the brain.
- Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin; an antioxidant that is found in cells of the human body, including those found in baby’s developing eyes and brain. It is important in protecting cells including baby’s developing eyes and brain. Vitamin E is essential for structure and function of the human nervous system, retina, and skeletal muscle. Common sources of vitamin E include oil-containing grains, fortified cereals, vegetable oils, plants, and vegetables.
Breast milk is the best way to supply your baby with these vital nutrients.*
