Nutrients and how_they_effect_the_brain

Nutrients and how they effect the brainBy: Sarah Shumate

Nutrients effects on the Brain • There are several nutrients that effect the

brain some of them are…• Nutrients are derived from vitamins and

minerals.• Vitamins and Minerals are needed by the

body but not produced by the body.• Baby’s Brain and Nutrition• The effect of diet on the development of a

child’s brain begins as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. If the mom has a poor diet during pregnancy, the child could have lifelong birth defects, including mental retardation or behavioral problems. A poor diet can lead to his brain being smaller and less active.

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Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/391276-nutrition-and-brain-development-in-a-child/#ixzz22LyTM04s

NUTRITION AND THE BRAIN

• A person's food intake affects mood, behavior, and brain function. A hungry person may feel irritable and restless, whereas a person who has just eaten a meal may feel calm and satisfied.

• A sleepy person may feel more productive after a cup of coffee and a light snack. A person who has consistently eaten less food or energy than needed over a long period of time may be apathetic and moody.

Read more: Nutrition and mental health - children, causes, functioning, effects, therapy, person, people, used http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Nutrition-and-mental-health.html#ixzz22M5JJpeb

Carbohydrates and mental health

• Carbohydrates include starches, naturally occurring and refined sugars, and dietary fiber. Foods rich in starches and dietary fiber include grain products like breads, rice, pasta and cereals, especially whole-grain products; fruits; and vegetables, especially starchy vegetables like potatoes. Foods rich in refined sugars include cakes, cookies, desserts, candy, and soft drinks.

Specific nutrient qualities

• Dietary lipids- Dietary cholesterol from dairy products and egg yolks have been associated with brain functioning at all ages. Lipids make up 10% of the weight of the brain and are essential for the proper formation of membranes and myelin. Importantly though, excess cholesterol can build up in the blood leading to disease

Specific nutrient qualities Continued

• Carotenoids and flavonoids- These powerful antioxidants combat oxidative stress in the brain and this is believed to have a protective effect in the ageing processes. Carotenoids are found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables especially but all fruits are good sources of flavonoids.– Virtual Medical Centre © 2002 - 2012

• Micronutrients- including iron, zinc, choline, selenium, iodine, magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamins A and C play key roles in energy metabolism as well as neurological enzymatic reactions and processes. Micronutrients are specifically involved in producing functional brain lipids, neurotransmitters, DNA and RNA.

Nutrients for brain development during pregnancy

• Fetal brain development is a complex process, and the nutrients that are taken during pregnancy will effect the baby’s brain. A deficiency in some nutrients can cause serious birth defects of the brain.

• Two nutrients that are important for brain devlopment is: Folate is an important nutrient for brain and spinal cord development. A lack of folate affects the brain during the earliest phases of development, often before the woman is even aware of the pregnancy. It can cause the brain and spinal cord not to form completely, leading to severe birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, is added to many fortified foods in the United States, including breads and cereals, but it is still important to take a prenatal vitamin that contains this nutrient. Spinach, beans, asparagus and peanuts are also good sources of folate.

*http://www.livestrong.com/article/538609-nutrients-for-brain-development-during-pregnancy/#ixzz22nKaoIQ5

Nutrients for brain development during pregnancy Continued:

• The brain of a human fetus grows rapidly from the 10th to 18th week of pregnancy, so it is important for the mother to eat nutritious foods during this time.

• Babies born to mothers who had poor diets may have some form of mental retardation or behavioral problems. Also, children who do not receive adequate nutrition in their first few years of life may develop problems later. Often the effects of malnutrition and environmental problems, such as emotional and physical abuse, can combine to create behavioral problems.

• The brain also grows rapidly just before and for about 2 years after birth. Malnutrition during these periods of rapid brain growth may have devastating effects on the nervous system and can affect not only neurons.– http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nutr.html

Variety of vitamins and nutrients

• There are several vitamins and nutrients that we need to sustain a healthy life form conception to death

• Following is a table of essential vitamins and there benefits to the mind and body.

• www.minddisorders.com

This table can be found at

Read more: Nutrition and mental health - children, causes, functioning, effects, therapy, person, people, used http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Nutrition-and-mental-health.html#ixzz22nQxKQb1

BIBLOGRAPHY:

• Chafetz, M.D. Nutrition and Neurotransmitters. The Nutrient

Bases of Behavior. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1990. • offspringmagazine.• Virtual Medical Centre © 2002 – 2012• *·

MayoClinic.com; Pregnancy diet: Focus on these essential nutrients; May 2011 – this article was about how you can properly take care of yourself as a mother while pregnant, and as well as what is needed for the baby for it first two years of life.

• Schiff, Wndy J. "Nutrition For Healthy Living." Schiff, Windy J. Nutrition For Healthy Living. McGraw Hill, 2011. 489-490.

Bibliography Continued:

• "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Nutritional Importance of Choline for Brain Development; S.H. Zeisel; December 2004

• *http://www.livestrong.com/article/538609-nutrients-for-brain-development-during-pregnancy/#ixzz22nNRkXls- in this article I read about how folate and folac acids are important nutrients for the brain and spinal cord development. A lack of foliate affects the brain during the earliest phases of development. And it also talked about where we can get them through certain foods as well as vitamins.

• *www.minddisorders.com- in this online article it broke down how each vitamin plays important role in our body. As well as what part of our bodies it helps the most.

• Nutrition Reviews; Mar2011, Vol. 69 Issue 3, p132-144, 13p, 2 Charts