The collective groaning you hear is probably the sound of children dissatisfying that summer is over and a new school year is starting. You’ve probably already thought of all the necessary back-to-school items. But, what about brain health?
California Innovations BrainFuel is a program that helps parents build a solid foundation for their children’s education. It draws on extensive research showing that exercise, diet, and rest are all important factors in cognitive performance. The magazine features articles that discuss recent brain research and the effects of exercise and sleep on mental acuity. It also includes quick tips to pack smarter lunches and recipes that promote brain health. These are just a few suggestions to help you get started.
* Skip the snooze and make breakfast. Research has shown that breakfast-eaters are more likely to be at school on time, have a better attitude, perform better in tests, and have higher test scores than breakfast-skipers.
* Drop the pop. Is soda really so bad? “Yup. Affirmative. Absolutely,”Jonny Bowden PhD, CNS, is a board-certified nutritionist. Soda pop, which is made with high-fructose Corn Syrup, has a lot of calories but no nutritional value. Keep it simple: 100 percent juice, milk or water.
* Go nuts! Avoid potato chips for snacks and pack nuts (allergies not included). Walnuts contain high levels of Omega-3 and antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin A.
* Focus on fitness. Experts don’t know how exercise fuels learning. But they do know that it does. John J. Ratey, a Harvard Medical School clinical professor of psychiatry, said that exercise is an important factor in learning. “Exercise itself doesn’t make you smarter, but it puts the brain of the learners in the optimal position for them to learn.”Exercise is shown to increase the ability of cells to grow synapses. These are vital for learning and forming connections in the brain.
* Encourage plenty of sleep. “Even minor changes in sleep… can impair a school kid’s learning, memory, attention [and] concentration,”Avi Sadeh (DSc), researcher and director of the Laboratory for Children’s Sleep and Arousal Disorders, Tel Aviv University.
California Innovations BrainFuel is possible thanks to the support of LeapFrog and Horizon, Every Day With Rachael Ray (Every Day with Rachael), Bumble Bee, Dole Fruit Bowlss, Parents Magazine, and other sponsors. Register for the $30,000 Sweepstakes to get additional tips and information. www.brainfuel4kids.com.
