For you, all breastfeeding mothers, please read this news for your baby’s shake. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is doubling the amount of vitamin D, from 200 IU per day to 400 IU per day, beginning in the first two months of lice. This recommendation also extends to all other babies, children, and adolescents. “We are doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children need each day because evidence has shown this could have life-long health benefits,” Dr. Frank Greer, chairman of the AAP Committee on Nutrition, said.

This doubling recommendation is especially important for breastfed baby according to Dr. Carol Wagner, member of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee and who co-authored the report with Geer. “Because of vitamin D deficiencies in maternal diet, which affect the vitamin D in a mother’s milk, it is important that breastfed infants receive supplements of vitamin D,” she explained.

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Good news for breastfeeding and fish lover mom! A study that was conducted by the researchers from Harvard University said that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and compounds in breast milk aid infant development. The research, which looked at 25,446 children born to mothers participating in a Danish study between 1997 and 2002, found that children whose mothers ate the most fish during pregnancy (about 2 ounces a day on average) were more likely to have better motor and cognitive skills. Children who were breast-fed for longer periods of time also scored better, especially at 18 months. Breast milk also contains omega-3 fatty acids. The benefit of fish consumption was similar among infants breast-fed for shorter or longer durations. But, U.S. women are advised to limit their fish intake to two servings a week, because some fish contain high traces of mercury. Cod, plaice, salmon, herring, and mackerel are good low-mercury fish choices to consume.  

SOURCE: Harvard Medical School, news release, September 2008

Here we are at the part 2 of my article. Let’s continue with the other five foods that can make your kid smarter.

6. Berries

Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries are the good ones for your kids. Choose the berries with more intense color cause it shows that there are more nutrition in them. Studies have shown that there are improved memory with the extracts of blueberries and strawberries. Berries seeds are also a good source of omega-3 fats. Read the rest of this entry »

“The brain is a very hungry organ and the first of the body’s organs to absorb nutrients from the food we eat,” says Bethany Thayer, MS, RD, a Detroit nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) to WebMD. And, according to her, there are certain foods that may help to give nutrition for the brain that may help to boost your child’s brain growth, improve his brain function, memory, and concentration. Here I share 10 foods that make your kids smarter. Read the rest of this entry »