Lawrence Clark Powell

Facts About Breastfeeding

"Today, paediatricians, obstetricians,midwives , even manufacturers of infant formula concur :under most circumstances , breast is best by far"
                      -What to Expect The First Year

It's custom-made.
a) Breast milk contains at least 100 ingredients that are not found in cow's milk and that cant be synthesized in the laboratory. Composition of breast milk changes constantly to meet a baby's everychanging needs.

It goes down easily.
b) Its protein (mostly lactalbumin) and its fat are more easily handled by the baby than are the protein (mostly caseinogen) and fat in cow's milk.

It's safe.
c) You can be sure that the milk served up from your breats isnt improperly prepared, spoiled or contaminated (assuming that you dont have an illness that would make breastfeeding unsafe for baby).

It keeps allergies on hold.
d) Babies are almost never allergic to breast milk.

Early Childhood Education Building a Better Future for Your Kids

The benefits of early childhood education have long been disputed.  It is hard to deny the opponents opinion that children have always grown up to be intelligent and reliable young adults without the benefits of early childhood education.  Child psychologists and teachers  for early childhood education point out that there are many benefits including:  the child being ahead when they start formal education,  having a good foundation for continued learning,  having a grasp of peer relationships,  having higher self esteem, and better enjoyment of the learning process.

Psychologists say that the toddler years are when a child learns the most.  It is during these years that the child’s mind is working over time--taking in everything  and processing information at a faster pace than they will a few years down the line.  Psychologist say that this time is of great importance because this is when children learn to socialize and process basic learning skills.   In this way, early childhood education is the foundation for continued learning.

Early childhood education will teach your child the basic skills necessary to be a success once your child starts his formal education.  During early childhood education your child will learn to write his name, count and do basic math problems such as grouping objects, learn the colors and shapes, and recognition of first words. 

Your child will be placed in a classroom with other children.  By playing and learning with other children, your child will learn how to deal with day to day situations. Early childhood education provides your child a means in which to learn to share toys, to communicate thoughts and ideas, and to deal with their emotions.

Children who have had opportunities for personal growth have higher self esteem. Imagine how happy your child will be when, during the first day of formal education, he/she already knows how to spell their name, what the date is, and how to tie their own shoes. Your child will be praised by his teachers and peers for his knowledge.

By giving your child an early childhood education, you are providing your child with the means necessary to be happy and successful in life.  Research studies show that children who have an early childhood education go on to do better in school and are more successful in adult life.

It is easy to see that an early childhood education is essential for a child’s future.  Parents who choose to place their child in education should be cautioned on a few things. Psychologists say that children should only attend part time.  This is because it is important that the child spends time with the parents each day; which fosters security in the child.  It is also important that the child does not become overwhelmed or too tired during a long day.   Even a few days a week in early childhood education will provide a great deal of benefit to your child.

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Iron and omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies impacts children’s brains

It is well known that nutritional deficiencies can impact a child’s development. According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting approximately 2 billion people. A number of children throughout the globe have an insufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Iron deficiency commonly results in anemia. Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish or fish oils, which consist of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina as a physiologically-essential nutrient to provide for optimal neuronal functioning (learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity, in young and old alike. A team of international researchers noted that little is known about the combined effects of iron and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cognitive performance. They explained that either DHA/EPA or iron alone in rats with combined iron and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency has been reported to exacerbate (worsen) cognitive deficits associated with deficiency. Therefore, they conducted a study that evaluated the effects of iron and DHA/EPA supplementation, alone and in combination, in children with poor iron and omega-3 fatty acid status. They published their results on line on October 24 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Although nutritional deficiency in children has a worldwide presence, poor children in developing nations are at particular risk for deficiencies in iron, as well as other nutrients, including the omega-3 fatty acids. The researchers evaluated the effects of giving 321 schoolchildren, aged six to 11 years, in South Africa either supplements containing iron, omega-3 fatty acids or both. All of the children had low levels of both nutrients. They were allocated to receive: (1) iron (50 mg) plus DHA/EPA (420/80 mg); (2) iron plus placebo; (3) placebo plus a mixture of DHA and EPA (DHA/EPA); or (4) placebo plus placebo as oral supplements. They received the supplements or placebos f times per week for 8.5 months. Cognition was assessed at baseline and endpoint by using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) and subscales of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.

The researchers found that both iron and DHA/EPA significantly increased weight-for-age z scores. A z score measures how much a value deviates from an average score. In this case, the higher z scores indicated better cognitive performance. Iron increased the number of words recalled at HVLT recall 2; in anemic children, iron increased scores in the Atlantis Delayed test and HVLT recall 2. In addition, DHA/EPA was found to have no benefit in any of the cognitive tests but decreased Atlantis test scores in children who were anemic at baseline and decreased Atlantis delayed scores in girls with iron deficiency; however, boys tended to perform better.

The authors concluded that in children with poor iron and omega-3 fatty acid status, iron supplementation improved verbal and nonverbal learning and memory, particularly in children with anemia. In contrast, DHA/EPA supplementation had no benefits on cognition and impaired working memory in anemic children and long-term memory and retrieval in girls with ID.

Take home message:
Although this study was conducted on poor children in a developing nation, a number of children in the US suffer from nutritional deficiencies as a result of poor diet and or poverty. Oily fish are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, as well as red meats, are high in iron. Inexpensive supplements of these nutrients are also widely available.

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

                   http://www.emaxhealth.com/11306/iron-and-omega-3-fatty-acid-deficiencies-impacts-childrens-brains