Infancy is a golden period for babies' growth, and during this stage, parents should pay attention to nourishing their babies' brains. However, there are also many foods that can affect the brain development of babies. Let's summarize the foods that can affect the brain development of babies.
1. Preserved eggs
Preserved eggs, also known as century eggs or pidan, are a Chinese processed food invented by the Han ethnic group. They have a unique flavor and can stimulate appetite. However, preserved eggs contain lead, so it is best for children to eat them sparingly. Long-term consumption can affect the intellectual development of babies.
2. Meat
Meat is one of the ways people obtain energy in their daily lives because it is rich in high-quality protein, which is essential for the growth and development of babies. However, feeding babies only meat can also affect their intellectual development. Excessive consumption of meat and eggs naturally leads to a decrease in the intake of vegetables and fruits, which can affect the brain and nerve function of babies, causing them to become fussy, irritable, and have poor memory and thinking abilities. In severe cases, it can even lead to autism. Therefore, the diet for babies should include a variety of foods to ensure a balanced intake of nutrients and avoid affecting their intellectual development.
3. Fried dough sticks, cellophane noodles, jelly noodles, and fried dough
These foods, such as fried dough sticks, cellophane noodles, jelly noodles, and fried dough, all contain additives with high aluminum content during the manufacturing process. Studies have shown that canned beverages also have high aluminum content. Regular or daily consumption of these foods can lead to excessive aluminum intake, which can affect the function of brain cells, leading to a decrease in memory and sluggish thinking. Families that frequently use aluminum pots for cooking or aluminum kettles for boiling water should also pay attention to the increased intake of aluminum. When cooking, adding vinegar, soy sauce, and other seasonings to the aluminum pot will increase the release of aluminum ions.
4. Smoked fish, roasted duck, and roasted goose
Smoked fish, roasted duck, and roasted goose, which are cooked over charcoal fire, contain carcinogens. The peroxides in them are harmful to the human body. Long-term intake can damage certain metabolic enzyme systems in the body, leading to early brain aging or dementia.
5. Foods containing salt, saccharin, and monosodium glutamate
Although salt, saccharin, and monosodium glutamate are indispensable seasonings in daily cooking, the physiological requirement for salt for children is less than 4 grams per day. Overly salty foods can not only cause conditions such as high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis but also damage the blood vessels, affecting the blood supply to the brain tissue. This can result in the long-term lack of oxygen and nutrients in brain cells, leading to intellectual dullness, decreased memory, premature aging, and even dementia. Excessively sweet saccharin, which is refined from benzoic acid, should be limited in quantity, as it can damage brain and liver cells. The main component of monosodium glutamate is sodium glutamate. The World Health Organization has proposed that adults should not consume more than 4 grams of monosodium glutamate per day, and pregnant women and infants under one year old should avoid it. Pregnant women who consume too much monosodium glutamate in the late stages of pregnancy can cause zinc deficiency in the fetus, affecting the physical and mental development of the child and hindering intellectual development.
6. Tofu
Tofu contains high-quality plant protein and has a tender texture. It can promote the brain development of babies and provide calcium. Therefore, mothers believe that feeding babies tofu is beneficial. However, this is incorrect. Although soy products are rich in high-quality plant protein and are suitable for babies' appetites, excessive consumption can cause excessive excretion of iron and iodine from the body, leading to iron and iodine deficiencies in babies. Both of these nutrient deficiencies can affect the intellectual development of babies. In addition, tofu lacks an essential amino acid and its protein utilization rate is not high when consumed alone. It should be mixed with eggs and meat to improve protein absorption.
