The Role of Nutrition in Children’s Learning and their Behaviors

The nutritional options and choices available to children are crucial to their growth and development. Whether it is their ability to learn or their behavioral attitudes, nutrition always plays a key role. When the brain and body get the required nutrition, they both function properly. Therefore, it is fundamental to have an understanding of how nutrition decisions are in fact health decisions for your child. For Children creating positive environments in which to learn about nutrition will enable them to get the information they need about having a healthy attitude to food in the future.

It cannot be overemphasized that nutrition has profound effects on the brain and on our body’s physical functions.  As the old adage goes… We are what we eat!

The simple truth is that food is our most effective medication and also our most abused drug. However, a significant amount of scientific research has shown that if we eat nutritionally balanced diets, we can aid the treatment of disease, improve behavioral issues and better our health; it even improves our capacity for learning!

Good nutrition is when your diet provides you with the required combinations of vitamins, minerals, and vital nutrients allowing you to attain optimum physical and mental health.

Good nutrition involves balancing your diet to nourish your body. For Children, nutrition also paves the way for essential early neurological and physiological development; proper nutrition enables the body and the brain to grow. Apart from providing energy and fuel for your body, evidence has shown that certain foods contain specific nutrients essential for some bodily functions. Lack of those nutrients may hamper growth in cell tissues and in organs.

A balanced diet is crucial for brain development, especially the development of the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are associated with a set of cognitive abilities called executive functions; these include problem solving, planning, using strategies, evaluating and monitoring and staying on the task. These cognitive abilities have been shown to have a direct link to nutrient availability.

Significantly, scientists have shown that lack of a balanced diet can be a major contributing factor for worsening behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. When the body is starved of essential nutrients the hormone balance in the brain is affected and the individuals may outwardly express these imbalances as anti-social behaviors. Rather than being relaxed or friendly and individual may now seem antisocial, introverted, and hyperactive and be seen generally to misbehave. According to David E Barret a Harvard medical school psychologist, a healthy diet has long lasting effects on a Child’s ability to interact with other children and adults.

The prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related syndromes occur more frequently in malnourished children. Brain development is positively correlated with nutrition and a lack of proper nutrition directly correlates with an individual’s inability to concentrate, to improve their learning capacity and to exercise self-control.

ADHD often exhibits as a behavioral problem such as a learning disability, hyperactivity and aggressive or antisocial behavior. Scientists know that nutrients from our foods accelerate the formation of neuro-transmitters in the brain, highlighting the importance of the relationship between diet and behavior.

A child who eats a diet full of nutritious foods is more likely to behave well and interact successfully with others. Those with poor nutrition are prone to disinterest and withdrawn behaviors. When a child’s sugar level drops they can go from happy easy children to being a moody mess. This is because complex carbohydrates like sugars raise serotonin levels in the brain; serotonin is responsible for a positive mood.

If properly investigated, some children who exhibit antisocial tendencies may have had a record of consuming unhealthy food rather than having a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals accessible from foods such as fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The emotional and behavioral problems seen in children with poor diets can range from depression to attention disorders with or without hyperactivity.

The question therefore is - why are there nutritional deficiencies? The reason is that processing fresh produce destroys nutrients – storing food in shops and on shelves further diminishes nutrient content. Children who are fed on store bought cookies, pies, rolls, and processed food generally, instead of fresh fish, meats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains will undoubtedly develop nutritional deficiencies. These days, many children eat foods that are full of sugar, refined wheat, colorings and artificial hydrogenated oils. It's not hard to eat real food, fish, vegetables, fruits, lean fats and whole grains.

 It is important to remember that our brains biochemistry is determined by food we eat far more than other organs of the body. Nutrition clearly has significant effects on brain function. Protein, iron and iodine consumption all impact on a child’s learning capability and behavior, remember that eating habits develop early and most children acquire them from parents and siblings; children don’t develop food preferences entirely on their own, they acquire habits by observing others and by what they have access to, eating healthily in the home can improve your child’s nutritional status.

The emotional and behavioral problems of a poor diet can range from depression to ADHD, from stunted growth to obesity... Wrong food choices contribute to learning and behavioral problems in children. It then begs the question – If the brain is undernourished from an early age how much are these people in control of their own behavior, and how can we help to ensure that everyone has access to a balanced diet?

By Seun Idowu, 16 December 2013

***Seun Idowu is a biochemist whose research over the years has revolved around food nutrition, genetics and health