The Brain and Nutrition

The Brain and Nutrition

Choline: Food for Thought
The Role of Choline in Our Bodies and Brains

"Choline serves various functions in our bodies – in the structure of cell membranes, protecting our livers from accumulating fat, as the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and more. Because of rapid development in fetuses and infants, we have a great need for choline in our early lives. Human milk has high levels of choline."

"Choline started to get the interest of nutrition researchers when it was found that fetal rats whose mothers didn't get enough choline in their diets had less brain development and poorer memories after birth than those whose mothers ate adequate amounts of the nutrient. Over the past few years, there has been a rush of research, and there are now hints that choline may be essential not only for the brain development of fetuses and infants, but may help prevent memory loss associated with aging (although attempts to reverse cognitive decline have been disappointing)."

Folate - Folate Rich Foods
Child Nutrition Basics

 "Folate is an important vitamin, which most parents are aware of because of the association of low folate levels with premature babies and birth defects. These defects of the brain or spinal cord are the major defects associated with inadequate folate intake."

Nutritional Healing fourth edition p.234.
"Some theories suggest that brain development may have been interrupted in the early fetal stages in people who become autistic."

Some believe or have suggested that there maybe a link between nutrition and autism or down syndrome.

General population stress levels have also been higher due to economic conditions during this increase of autism. Stress can cause micromineral deficiencies and a number of different illness that could affect developing fetuses.

More citations needed



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