The importance of food in brain development
A child‘s nervous system is delicate, especially if Developmental Delay is suspected. Their nervous system along with the rest of their body will be growing, maturing and developing until their early twenties. During this process a well balanced diet will provide the building blocks for proper brain development and too many additives and E numbers can be detrimental.
During this process of growth and development the nervous system needs fuel; oxygen and glucose, but it doesn't’t need too much at any one time. Too many carbohydrates and pure sugars floods the system with excessive fuel and causes a temporary ‘high’ by triggering a specific area of brain “the pleasure centre”. The brain ‘enjoys’ the sugar rush and starts craving the next ‘high’.
Children who are fussy eaters tend to create their own diet often based on nothing but carbohydrates and pure sugars. They become addicted to this type of diet often duping parents into providing them with their preferred foods like sweets, crisps, pasta and high glucose drinks.
Another complication to this child-driven diet in that it often contains significant levels of E-numbers, additives and preservatives which the immature brain cannot cope with. Aspartame, used in many soft drinks has been implicated in what has been called “glutamate storms”. It would appear that aspartame triggers the release of excessive amounts of glutamate (a stimulating chemical in the brain) resulting in hyperactive and often pointless, destructive behaviour in children.
Avoid E-numbers.
The Hyperactive Children’s Support Group recommends that the following
be avoided:
E102, E104, 107, E110, E120, E122, E123, E124, E127, E128, E132, E133, E150,
E151, E154, E155, E160B, E210, E211, E220, E250, E251, E320 & E321.
Beware that some products no longer write aspartame on the
label, they just use it’s E number E951
Babies and young children should not be given:
E213, E214, E215, E216, E217, E218, E219, E310, E311, E312, E420, E421, 621,
622, 623, 627, 631 & 635.
Asthma sufferers should avoid:
E211, E212, E213, E214, E215, E216, E217, E218, E219, E310, E311, E312, E321,
E421, 621, 622, 623, 627, 631 & 635.
Also Azo dyes:
E102, 107, E110, E122, E123, E124, E128, E129, E151, 154, 155 & E180
And preservatives:
E220, E221, E222, E223, E224, E225, E226 & E227
The following are possibly carcinogenic (tending to cause cancer):
E110, E123, E127, E153, E249, E250, E251, E252, E320, E321, 905, 907 & E954.
If in doubt consult – “E for Additives” by M Hanssen Published
by Thorsons. ISBN 0-7225-1562-6
In short: What can you do if too much fuel and excessive food additives are beyond the developing brain’s ability to cope?
- Cut out all snack foods e.g. crisps, chocolates, fizzy drinks and check the labels carefully for additives.
- If you are providing a packed lunch avoid the easy way out by providing prepared snack food and use a little creativity that just might tickle your child’s appetite.
- Introduce more fruit into the diet. This can replace the unhealthy snack children often have on getting home from school.
- The evening meal should be home cooked and contain fresh meat/fish and vegetables.
- Carbohydrates should be provided in moderation. At all costs avoid the scenario in which the child dictates their diet and has toast for breakfast, crisps and biscuits mid-morning, chips for lunch, crisps, biscuits and cake mid-afternoon and pasta for supper.
Two weeks on this modified diet may well be enough in itself
to bring about noticeable changes in behaviour.
