- Want a baby with brains and intelligence?
- More information regarding the study
The cognitive and social-emotional health of your child can be enhanced by a Mediterranean diet, claims this new study based on 626 infants and their mothers in Spain. The JAMA Network Journal reported the findings. Participants in the study were split into three groups. Either 'usual care' was recommended, a Mediterranean diet was advised, or mindfulness-based stress reduction workshops were recommended.
- Dietary items from the Mediterranean
For pregnant women, a Mediterranean diet includes fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins (poultry, legumes), healthy fats (olive oil, nuts), and low-mercury fatty fish for omega-3s. Prioritize folate-rich greens, eggs for choline, and dairy/alternatives for calcium. Hydration is vital. Moderate red wine is optional. Consult professionals for personalized guidance to ensure proper nourishment for both mother and baby's growth and health.
- The effect of this diet on developing brains
Researchers employed a test that assesses the cognitive, linguistic, motor, adaptive, and social-emotional development of infants at birth and at age two.
In comparison to children receiving standard care, the researchers discovered that mothers who consumed the Mediterranean diet had children with "significantly higher scores" for cognitive and social-emotional wellness.
- Effects of pregnancy-related mindfulness training
In addition, compared to newborns of pregnant women who received standard care, those who were assigned to the mindfulness classes had babies who were more likely to have superior social-emotional well-being.
The parents who practiced mindfulness had lower levels of stress and anxiety than the other study groups, which may have contributed to a decrease in inflammatory hormones and proteins that could have an effect on fetal brain development.
- A word of advice
As per a doctor's recommendation, "This is an intriguing study that expands upon one that was conducted in a smaller sample in Spain. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution because more than half of the women who participated in it did not finish it, sometimes because they declined to or because they moved and can no longer be reached, according to The Sun.
Whether the children from these pregnancies would have had the same results is uncertain. As the study was not blinded and participants knew what was happening, it is also unknown if the change in diet or mindfulness directly caused the changes seen. Instead, the doctor suggested that since the participants may have become more motivated, other healthy lifestyle changes that persisted after giving birth may have contributed to the results.
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