Brain development has begun since the children are still in the womb until adulthood. However, when the children are born, the connection between nerves in their brain is not fully connected. This connection between nerves is a process that will develop by doing various activities, such as playing, interacting with the surrounding, and singing.
For an optimum brain development, it takes several important things which are good nutrition, proper stimulations, and fun activities. So, what are the required nutritional sources during the brain development period?
The central nerve system is rich in derivatives of two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpa-linolenic acid. Omega-3s such as alpha linolenic acid, EPA and DHA; as well as omega-6s such as linoleic acid, are unsaturated fatty acids that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting in the blood vessels. Both play an important role in preventing the blood vessels heart disease and in the future. Lack of omega-3 will lead to impaired vision and learning behavior.
Omega-3s such as alpha-linolenic acid is commonly found in fish oil, deep-sea fish like tuna, salmon, and cod. Omega-3 can also be obtained from canola oil, soybean oil, olive oil, and corn oil. While omega-6 such as linoleic acid can be found in vegetable oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower seed oil, cotton seed oil, and safflower oil.
In addition to good nutrition, stimulations also play an important role for the children’s brain development. Moms could maximize the stimulations by doing various activities that are beneficial in shaping the emotional, cognitive, social function, and optimal physical condition. Other studies have also mentioned that playing will mature the brain frontal lobe, where this frontal lobe is important for someone’s creativity, empathy, and self-control functions.
So Moms, if you want your children’s development to be optimum, provide them with a good nutritional intake and proper stimulations according to their age stage.
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