Important nutrients for brain development of your children

Have you ever caught a child mimicking an elder or dancing in front of people without any inhibitions or speaking confidently in front of strangers? As adults, these are things that would cause the best of people to become shy and conscious, but kids never have any inhibitions. Why, do you think, is that the case? Research has shown that a child’s brain is more active than the adult brain, which helps it learn faster, form impressions and create memory much faster than the average adult.

As the brain develops, it also forms brain connections. These brain connections are maximum by the age of 6 years and become less and less as one progresses in age. In fact, 90% of the brain development happens by the time a child is6 years old1!

This highlights the need for good nutrition of children in these formative years because this rapidly growing brain needs learning experiences and nutrition to aid its development.

Nutrients important for brain development:

1. DHA - It is a building block of the brain important for forming brain connections and its deficiency can lead to temper tantrums, impulsiveness amongst many other implications.

2. Choline helps in making and retaining memories

3. Vitamin B5 also known as Pantothenic Acid, contributes in brain cell function

4. Iron - A yet another essential for healthy brain function

5. Iodine - An important component in the production of Thyroid hormones, an essential requirement for the brain formation

6. Zinc – A mineral that aids the memory related functions.

Though these nutrients are important, it may not always be possible to accommodate them into your daily foods in the adequate quantities. Some reasons that may play a role are parents not knowing the exact nutrient quantity required for the child, children being fussy eaters or them having smaller appetites, etc. Some cases are when nutrients are not easily available in regular diets like DHA.

Junior Horlicks is scientifically designed nutrition for 2-6 year olds. It has DHA and brain nutrients* which help in brain development. It also helps in physical growth with its scientific formula. Junior Horlicks is launching a new campaign in the month of Mayoffering an insight on brain development of toddlers. You can watch their new TVC here.

 

Disclaimers:

#Junior Horlicks is a nutritional food powder which as part of a balanced daily diet helps meet your child’s nutritional requirements.
This product is not an infant milk substitute or infant food for less than 2years old.

*Brain Nutrients ( iron, zinc, iodine, choline, DHA and B group) as a terminology has been collectively used to depict the nutrients having a role in brain function and development.

1Brown T el al. Brain development during the preschool years. Neuropsychol Rev. 2012 ; 22(4): 313–333