Expert / 23 December, 2017 / Christine Bailey

Are These The Best Foods To Improve Your Child’s Performance At School?

We all want the best for our children and for them to reach their full potential and embrace life to the full. If you want them to perform well and keep them happy and motivated, it’s time to take a look at their diet.

Feeding your children with the right foods can not only improve mood and behaviour but have a profound effect on their ability to focus, concentrate and think clearly. Nutritionist and Author of the Brain Boost Diet has developed a programme to enable you and your children to optimise brain performance. This revolutionary new book based on the principles of functional medicine will help you to optimise your family’s diet to nourish, heal and protect your body and brain.

Research has clearly shown us how nutrition and learning go hand in hand. Certain foods enhance brain function, memory, concentration and motor skills. Children who eat the right foods are more focused with better moods and improved energy for school work. A brain and body that’s tired or lacking in the key nutrients won’t help your child perform at their best.

With a weight of 1.3kg/3lb our brains are one of our heaviest organs, demanding the most oxygen and glucose, and using about 30 per cent of the body’s glucose to function. While it’s glucose that energises brain cells – that doesn’t mean a diet full of sugary drinks and sweets is what our brains need. What your brain actually requires is a slow and steady supply – that means slow releasing carbohydrates with sufficient protein and healthy fats.

This is why breakfast is so important for children. Studies show that children who skip breakfast are more sluggish, are less attentive and have less energy for morning activities compared with classmates who eat breakfast. But skip the sugary breakfast cereals or toast and jam. Choose brain boosting options such as eggs, oats, yogurt, berries and nuts and seeds instead.

Younger children in particular often have variable appetites – so they may need regular snacks to keep the brain fuelled. Eating a snack between meals maintains a steady stream of glucose to the brain. Glucose also enhances the production acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that allows neurons to transmit memory messages. To prevent that brain drain mid-morning or afternoon, pack a healthy snack such as oat cakes with cheese, vegetable sticks and hummus, nuts and seeds or a small pot of fruit.

It’s not just what you put on your plate that’s important but what you remove. Research is suggesting that there may be an association between gluten in your diet and your mental health. It is thought that the damage from gluten in your digestive system allows substances to leak out from your stomach and migrate to the brain, which could result in low mood and depression. If you suspect your child may be adversely reacting to certain foods seek support from a qualified health care practitioner who can undertake laboratory testing to identify the culprit foods. All the recipes in the Brain Boost Diet are gluten free and many recipes are also free from other common allergens such as dairy.

Don’t forget to encourage them to drink plenty of water. The body needs water to keep the body and brain hydrated and to transport nutrients to the brain. Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration – even mild cases can make kids sluggish and irritable in the classroom.

Include these top ten brain foods to supercharged your child’s brain power.

Eggs

Eggs are one of best brain foods for your child. They are rich in protein, which are the building blocks to create our neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) plus essential nutrients for optimal brain function including iron, B vitamins and zinc. Eggs are also a rich source of brain-boosting choline, which helps enhance memory. Choline is used to transmit nerve impulses and maintain healthy brain cell membranes. Other good sources of choline include peanuts, soybeans and peas.

Oats

Ditch the sugary cereals and switch to slow releasing oats instead. Packed with fibre and a good source of protein to help balance blood sugar levels to keep your child focused through the morning. Oats are also a good source of the amino acid tryptophan which the body converts to mood boosting serotonin.

Lean Meat

Sub-optimal levels of iron can can impair concentration and memory in children. Iron is needed to transport oxygen to brain cells. It’s also used to make neurotransmitters that affect our ability to recall information and motivate us to learn. Good food sources include red meat, beans and lentils, leafy greens and tofu.

Poultry

Chicken and turkey are protein packed foods rich in tryptophan, which the body uses to make serotonin – our feel good neurotransmitter. Lean poultry also contains another amino acid called tyrosine, which can help boost motivation by improving levels of dopamine too.

Avocado

Avocados are another fabulous brain power food. Packed with tyrosine, the amino acid that helps the body produce dopamine which helps increase feelings of reward, motivation and overall mood. Try adding them to smoothies, mashing them up and spreading onto wholegrain toast or using them in dips. 

Full Fat Yogurt and Kefir

The intestines and brain are connected physically and biochemically. The vagus nerve is a large nerve that sends signals between the intestines and brain. The brain is also connected to the intestines through your gut microbes. Molecules that they produce can act as signals that the brain can detect – this means our beneficial bacteria can influence brain health and mood. Probiotic rich foods like yogurt and kefir are therefore a must for a healthy brain. Packed with beneficial bacteria researchers have found probiotics can help boost mood and reduce anxiety.

Seeds

Seeds like sunflower and pumpkin seeds are packed with healthy fats, protein and vitamin E. This vitamin’s potent antioxidant effects protect brain cells from damage and inflammation. Pumpkin seeds for example are a good source of iron, zinc, magnesium and copper – all important for brain function and boosting mood.

Berries

Berries are loaded with antioxidants including anthocyanidins, known to boost brain function and promote brain and nervous system health. Berries are also low in sugar and calories and packed with fibre to help balance blood sugar and energy levels.

Salmon

Wild-caught salmon is one of the best foods for both mood and brain power. Packed with omega 3 fats which help optimize brain function and production of neurotransmitters helping your child to think quickly and clearly. The more omega-3s we can get to the brain, the better it will function and the better children will be able to focus. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish, in particular DHA, are essential for brain growth and function. Our brain is 60% fat and these omega 3 fats make up a large portion of the communicating membranes of the brain. Try including oily fish 2-3 times a week. Good options include salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring and kippers.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens may not be top of the list in terms of your child’s favourite foods but they are packed with vital nutrients to enable the brain to perform well. Folate and other B vitamins in particular are essential co-factor nutrients for our brain to create our brain chemicals that affect focus and concentration. They also contain plenty of magnesium to calm the mind and help tackle with stress.

The Brain Boost Diet

The Brain Boost Diet Plan is a revolutionary 4-week diet based on the principles of functional medicine and the latest research designed to cleanse, protect and renew your brain, unleashing its huge potential. Perfect for adults and children, this dietary approach can boost your mental health and capacity, tackle low mood, eliminate and prevent short term memory loss, forgetfulness and increase brain-power. All the recipes in the book are gluten free, low sugar and packed with nutrients to optimise brain function. There are suggestions throughout for dairy free options. The recipes are also designed to suit everyday eating and ideal for all ages. The Brain Boost Diet by Christine Bailey, is published by Nourish Books (18th January 2018 – Paperback – £12.99).