Nuts Are Good For Your Babies Brain Growth

(Last Updated On: March 8, 2021)

 

Important information for future mothers, eat nuts

 

 

It is obvious that for a mother-to-be, food becomes very important. It will affect her health, but more importantly, it will affect the life and health of her baby. Alcohol and smoking are out as well as all those substances, such as mercury, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and many preservatives that are harmful to her child.

The basic requirements include enough sleep, a little exercise and in general, a healthy lifestyle will be beneficial.

 

Nuts are extremely good for you

It has been known for a long time that eating a variety of nuts is good for all people, young and old. It is a natural product, has no contamination, is loaded with healthy fats, and eating them can reduce your risk of getting cancer. It is also beneficial in case of infections and conditions related to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

Your heart will thank you and continue functioning well for many years if you eat nuts on a regular basis.

 

Do not overdo it with peanut butter

It seems that peanut butter, which is eaten by the spoonful in the U.S. does not have a positive effect. This may be due to the additives and perhaps the unhealthy bread, more than to the peanut itself.

On the other hand, there are so many other nuts to choose from that the peanut which after all is not a nut but a legume might be the last on your list. 100 Gram of raw peanuts has 567 calories. So if you eat peanuts, choose to enjoy only raw peanuts and that is valid for all nuts. The roasted with salt or sugar, or the chocolate-coated variety, you can forget.

Do not miss this short but informative video. It explains what you need in your diet and what to avoid when you are pregnant.

 

 

A new study with positive news

A new study has come out recently, which adds one more benefit of eating nuts to the already long list. This study was made by the Global Health Institute of Barcelona/Spain, (ISGlobal). They published it in the European Journal of Epidemiology. The findings of this study were really positive and of great importance to future mothers.

 

It is possible to improve the health of your prenatal child

To improve the long term neuropsychological development of your child, you need to eat nuts during the first 3 months of pregnancy. We know nuts are healthy, but this makes eating them even more desirable, as you can do something for your child’s health right from the moment of conception.

2200 Mothers and children in Spain, from Asturias, Guipuzcoa, Sabadell, and Valencia were part of the INMA project.

The children’s neuropsychological development was tested at different ages. First at the age of 18 months, then when they were 5 years old, and finally the last test at the age of 8 years old.

They required the mothers to fill in questionnaires with information on their eating habits. What did they eat during the first 3 and last 3 months of their pregnancy? If they were eating nuts, how much and how often and what type of nuts were all included as data in this study.

While the fetus is developing, the brain of the future human being undergoes a series of complex processes, and the food the mother eats is of utmost importance for the developing little one. I have written a couple of posts related to babies where outside influences are shown that have a negative effect on their development.

One post of mine was on those baby monitors, which stand next to the baby’s heads, in which the small brain still is developing. These devices are radiating the child’s brain 24/7 with unhealthy energy.

Then there are pollution and chemical dangers depending on what diapers you use. Now, something really modern is coming to the market as smart diapers. Be very careful with what you buy for your baby.

To come across the wonderful news about the benefits of nuts in early pregnancy made me happy, finally something positive. To be able to do this before your baby is born, I really find nice. Besides, it is so easy, tastes great, is cheap and best of all, it has a long-lasting effect on your child.

 

 

I am listing the different nuts which were recommended and used in the study

Walnuts: Promotes a healthy gut. Is food for your brain. Look at the shape of the walnut, it resembles a brain in small. Iron, selenium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E and also some B vitamins. They are good for your heart and will boost your mood. There are 2 types, the brown and the black walnut.

 

 

Almonds: They have a lot of antioxidants and are full of nutrients. Just a handful provides one-eighth of our daily protein. Actually, they are not a true nut. The almond is a species of tree native to India, North Africa, and the Middle East. The domestication began thousands of years ago.

 

 

Pine Nuts: They are great for your skin, hair and of course your health. There are 20 species of pine trees that produce pine seeds. The native Americans from the Great Basin harvested these nuts for over 10.000 years. Calcium, protein, vitamins A and C, and iron. Also, different vitamin Bs.

 

 

Hazelnuts: They are good for your blood pressure and help to reduce inflammation. They have a lot of fiber and vitamin E and B, and both copper and manganese. The phytic acid might inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

 

 

Peanuts: Also peanuts, which are groundnuts belonging to the legume family, have health benefits. Too much though can have negative effects on your health. You might experience an increase in weight. Too much phytic acid would have a negative effect as it would reduce the absorption of minerals, therefore contributing to mineral deficiencies.

Some people are allergic to peanuts. Peanuts have a soft, permeable pod and they might have fungi. This type of mold is bad for you.

I have listed only a few things about nuts, as one could write a complete book about the history and health benefits. As with everything in life, do not exaggerate with the intake of nuts. A handful of mixed nuts every day will be good for your health. As I said before, only take the natural nuts, not coated or salted.

When you are introducing nuts into your diet, you will need a good nutcracker. Have a look at this one from Amazon. It is strong and will serve you for many years to come.

 

 

Why nuts are important for a developing brain

The fact is nuts have a high folic acid content and are especially rich in essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6. These components tend to accumulate in the nerve tissues of the developing brain, targeting mainly the areas in front of the brain. This influences memory and executive functions, says researcher Florence Gignac of ISGlobal and head of this study.

The actual recommended amount in this study was 3 to 7 helpings a week with a weight of around 30 grams each. The mothers in this study did not eat as many rations as recommended, it was slightly less. The positive result got by the actual rather small amount of nuts eaten was already remarkable, so imagine if 7 rations per week were standard in the diets of pregnant women.

The study found that the benefits were mainly obtained during the first 3 months of pregnancy, and the consumption of nuts during the last 3 months did not provide many benefits.

 

 

Conclusion

In Spain, people eat about a double amount of nuts compared to other European countries, 4.8 gram a day. Personally, I do not think that is a lot. I certainly eat more and add different seeds. My bone density test improved 5% in 2 years and that made me happy. Getting older and improving one’s health is very positive.

I hope a lot of women who plan to become mothers will adopt the healthy habit of eating nuts for their own health, but especially for the health of the future generation. By the way, have you ever been to a Baby Fair? They hold these fairs in many countries.

Here you will find a nice article on one in England. There are many helpful and interesting things you can find on those types of fairs, and there is the possibility to have a chat or two with other women. An informative and great day out.

I have made a special page for you. Have a look at Recommendations as you might find something of your interest.

 

Source: Sur in English May 10th to 16th, 2019. Article by Elena Martin Lopez

Photo Source: Pixabay

 

Fast food is terrible for your health and especially for pregnant women. You might like to read the following post as this is important information for you and your future baby.

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