Many pregnant women want to eat foods that help maximize their babies' chances of being as healthy, fit, and intelligent as possible. There aren't "magic bullets" for ensuring that your baby is smart--brain development and function depend on genetics, the environment in utero, and stimulation and experiences after birth--but there are some foods you can eat to boost your baby's brain development in positive ways.
Salmon and Other Cold Water Fish
Salmon and many other cold water fish are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, which stands for docosohexaenoic acid. According to Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby," the human brain appears to have grown bigger and evolved more complex functioning around the time that ancestral species migrated toward the sea coasts. DHA fosters brain growth and development, so by eating salmon and other rich sources of DHA, you encourage your baby to reach full mental capacity.
Antioxidant-Containing Foods
Antioxidant vitamins, especially C and E, help prevent damage to cells and tissues from environmental toxins. By consuming plenty of foods rich in these vitamins, you ensure that your baby gets access to antioxidants as well, which can help optimize cellular function. Oxidative damage to the brain, which antioxidants help prevent, can diminish brain function. Foods rich in vitamin C include many fruits and vegetables, especially brightly colored ones. Vitamin E is present in seeds, nuts and leafy greens.
Overall Healthy Foods
Being "smart" isn't just a matter of having a facility for language or math; it's also a matter of being capable of making the right choices in any situation. To help give your baby a head start with regard to making smart choices about nutrition and wellness later in life, research suggests that you should eat predominantly healthy foods while pregnant. ScienceDaily.com reports that researchers noted that women who ate healthier diets during pregnancy "pre-programmed" their babies to seek out healthy foods later in life, predisposing them to a lifetime of smart choices with regard to nutrition.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- ScienceDaily.com: Healthy Foods
