With the successive occurrences of tainted steamed buns and Sanlu milk powder, Chinese cuisine is a cause for concern. This has led many parents to worry about their children's diet. While it is true that providing children with nutritious food can enhance brain development, eating unhealthy food can actually harm brain development. So what kind of food is suitable for children? Below, I will explain which foods can be detrimental to brain development.
【Foods with high MSG content】
Sodium glutamate is the main component of MSG. It combines with zinc in the blood and is then excreted in urine. Therefore, consuming too much MSG depletes the body of zinc. Medical research shows that zinc is essential for fetal growth and development. If pregnant women consume excessive MSG in the later stages of pregnancy, it can lead to zinc deficiency in the fetus, affecting the physical and mental development of the child after birth. Therefore, in order to promote intelligence in babies, pregnant mothers should consume less MSG.
Children under one year of age who consume excessive MSG may experience brain cell necrosis. The World Health Organization suggests that adults should not consume more than 4 grams of MSG per day, and pregnant women and children under one year of age should avoid it. Like salt, the body's requirement for both MSG and salt is very low. Therefore, even as children grow older, it is best to limit their consumption of foods high in MSG.
【Foods with high lead content】
Medical research shows that lead can kill brain cells and damage the brain. Parents should avoid giving their children foods such as popcorn, preserved eggs, and beer that contain high levels of lead.
【Overly salty foods】
Overly salty foods not only cause diseases such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis, but also damage blood vessels, affecting blood supply to the brain and causing ischemia and hypoxia in brain tissue, leading to memory loss and intellectual dullness. The recommended daily intake of salt is below 7 grams for adults and below 4 grams for children. Therefore, in daily life, parents should limit their children's consumption of foods that are high in salt, such as pickles, preserved vegetables, salted meat, and bean paste. Pickles that are too salty lose their nutritional value over time, so pregnant mothers should eat fresh seasonal vegetables for a healthier diet.
【Foods with high aluminum content】
Frequent consumption of foods with high aluminum content can lead to memory loss, slow reaction times, and even dementia. Therefore, it is best for parents to avoid letting their children consume foods like fried dough sticks and fried pancakes that contain high levels of aluminum.
【Foods with high peroxidized lipids】
Peroxidized lipids can cause premature aging or dementia in the brain, directly damaging brain development. Foods such as cured meat, smoked fish, roast duck, and roast goose, which are fried or exposed to temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius for a long time, contain high levels of peroxidized lipids. Prolonged consumption of foods with peroxidized lipids can damage certain metabolic enzyme systems in the body, leading to premature aging or dementia. In fact, pregnant mothers do not need to eat cured meat, as its nutritional content has been depleted. They can choose fresh meat, which is rich in nutrients and can be prepared in various ways to stimulate their appetite.
