Childhood and adolescence are key periods of rapid physical and intellectual growth, where they need to deal with heavy learning and activities on a daily basis; therefore, ensuring sufficient nutrient intake and fostering good lifestyle habits is particularly important.
The development of the human brain is not limited to before the age of three, but actually continues into adolescence and gradually matures. During childhood, the brain’s white matter steadily grows, while the gray matter responsible for cognitive processing significantly develops around the age of ten, with girls reaching peak development a year earlier than boys. Following the peak development period, the brain follows the principle of “use it or lose it”, emphasizing the need to promote maximal brain development during this critical period.
However, many children and adolescents today have dietary habits that threaten healthy brain development, with the most prominent issue being picky eating. Picky eating restricts the absorption of well-rounded nutrients, even if the preferred foods are nutrient-rich, they may not meet the diverse nutritional needs of the brain. Children who refuse to eat fruits and vegetables are particularly at risk of developing an acidic body constitution that is unfavorable for brain function and may hinder intellectual development.
Another dietary misconception is the excessive pursuit of heavily processed foods, such as refined white rice, flour, and sugar. These foods lose many essential nutrients for brain development during the refining process, indicating that dietary refinement does not equate to high nutrition.
In addition, the abundance of processed foods and food additives on the market poses hidden dangers. For example, although nitrites added to sausages and canned foods can preserve freshness and enhance flavor, they can combine with hemoglobin, leading to brain oxygen deprivation and affecting development; similarly, the artificial colors in colorful beverages and pastries enhance their visual appeal but diminish the original nutritional value of the foods, posing potential risks to the physical and brain health of children and adolescents. Therefore, when choosing foods, it is important to focus on their natural and nutritional value and avoid excessive reliance on processed products.
