Pregnancy Nutrients Can Super Charge Your Baby's Brain For Life

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http://mercola.com/2004/mar/31/pregnancy_nutrients.htm

 

Pregnancy Nutrients Can Super Charge Your Baby's Brain For Life

According to a study, the important nutrient choline “super-charged the brain

activity of animals in utero, which resulted in the creation of larger cells

that were quicker at firing electrical “signals” that release memory-forming

chemicals.

 

These significant changes in the brain could be used to explain how choline

improved learning and memory in animals in earlier behavioral studies.

Researchers said this data could mean boosting cognitive function, diminishing

age-related memory decline and decreasing the brain’s vulnerability to toxic

insults in children.

 

This research has led to the decision to raise choline to the status of an

essential nutrient, particularly for pregnant and nursing women.

 

Choline can be found as a naturally occurring nutrient in egg yolks, milk, nuts,

fish, liver and human breast milk.

 

In a study, the effects of choline on neurons in the hippocampus were studied

using pregnant rats that were given extra amounts of choline during a short, yet

critical time of their pregnancy.

 

From the study, experts concluded that the choline-induced rats were more

excitable and stronger in their physiologic reactions.

 

Experts also found that two hippocampal proteins, MAPK and CREB, which are known

contributors to enhancing learning and memory, were activated in higher amounts

in the animals prenatally given the choline supplement.

 

Journal of Neurophysiology April 2004;91(4):1545-55 (Free Full Text Article)

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

The implications of the study’s findings are potentially huge. If this turns out

to be true in humans and has the potential to make people smarter their entire

lives and forestall age-related memory decline--that’s potentially an extremely

exciting prospect.

 

One of the simple things pregnant women can do to increase their choline intake

is to start eating raw eggs. Eggs are very high in choline and when eaten in the

raw state the nutrients are less damaged and the risk of salmonella in healthy

eggs is very low.

 

As a matter of fact, you would have a better chance at winning the lottery than

catching salmonella from a healthy chicken.

 

Please also remember that omega-3 fat, especially from clean cod liver oil is

another very powerful food nearly every single pregnant woman needs to be

taking.

 

Not only will this dramatically reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous

pregnancy complication, but it will also virtually eliminate the risk of

premature delivery. Also, like choline, it will also dramatically increase the

intelligence of your child.

 

Related Articles:

 

Omega 3 Oils: The Essential Nutrients

 

Mercury In Your Fish

 

Low-Calorie Diet Can Cause Premature Births

 

Major Study Shows Fish Oil Fat in Infants Increases Adult Intelligence

 

Exercise in Pregnancy Seems Beneficial

 

The Vital Role of Essential Fatty Acids For Pregnant and Nursing Women

 

 

 

 

 

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