Brain food

Brain development is enhanced during three developmental stages: foetal, infancy and adolescence. This intense development asks for optimal food. The wide-hl belief that the more positive intellectual development of breastfed children is mainly due to the fact that more intelligent woman breastfeed does not seem to be justifyable. A few generations back, in the ‘6o’s and ‘70’s off last century, highly educated women pertinently did not tend to breastfeed.  Fats are an elementary part of brain food, especially the fatty acids. Human milk contains the right fats and fatty acids for optimal brain development. Isaacs et al (including dr. Lucas from the early premature infants and human donor milk studies)  found that a minimum of 50% human milk in the diets of premature babies let to an improved verbal intelligence I all adolescents and to all forms of intelligence in male adolescents. . These data support the hypothesis that breast milk promotes brain development, particularly white matter growth. Mothers could even enhance the brain food quality of their milk by modelling their diets and possibly use supplements. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids can do this and provide for a more stable mental health for themselves. Helland at al found that maternal concentration of n-3 very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy might be of importance for later cognitive function.
Isaacs EB, Fischl BR, Quinn BT, Chong WK, Gadian DG, Lucas A: Impact of Breast Milk on Intelligence Quotient, Brain Size, and White Matter Development. Pediatric Research 2010, 67(4):357-362.
Helland IB, Smith L, Blomen B, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA: Effect of Supplementing Pregnant and Lactating Mothers With n-3 Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids on Children's IQ and Body Mass Index at 7 Years of Age. Pediatrics 2008 122: e472-e479