Proper nutrition is essential for the brain to perform at its peak, no matter the age.
It then would follow that the food kids eat fuels not only their body, but also their minds. “Research shows that healthy eating can improve children’s concentration and help them do better in the school,” says Janice Baranowski from Baylor University in Houston. “Getting proper nutrients is especially important for young brains that are still growing and developing.
The modern paradox, however, is that for all of our modern conveniences and technological advances, children are more unhealthy and deconditioned than ever, and if not managed properly, this can easily lead to unhealthy minds and bodies.
The following tips will help you get started on giving your kids a healthy, balanced life:
• Make good choices. It stands to reason that what we put into our kids’ bodies is directly linked to how well their minds will grow and operate. To this point, consider a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and dairy. So, forgo the fast food, and instead spend more money on food that is good for you and your family.
• Get your couch potato off the couch. If you want your kids to put down the video games, insist the whole family get moving. Exercise, such as going for a bike ride or a walk, or simply chasing each other around a park, has been shown to give the brain a boost.
• Drink more water. Water is crucial to maintaining overall health, but some kinds are better than others. While tap and bottled water help in keeping children from getting dehydrated, a better choice might be alkaline water, such as Alkame Water. An ionized water has smaller molecule clusters that are able to permeate a body’s cells and hydrate much more effectively. This makes the water and minerals better able to be absorbed by little bodies and allows cells to flush out the toxins within. An added benefit to drinking ionized water such as Alkame is that it contains a powerful source of antioxidants that boost the health system.
“Adding alkaline water to your child’s fluid intake will allow for a natural boost of energy and alertness allowing for more mental clarity and better daily performance, both mentally and physically,” says Dr. Pietro Baio, DC, of Performance Edge Chiropractic, P.C.
Consider your child’s brain a muscle, and create opportunities to flex it by reading with them every day, or if they’re older, ensure that you carve out time for them to do so. A brain rewires itself through reading, and challenging a child’s brain early in life has been shown to build up its “cognitive reserves.”
