HAPPINESS BEGINS IN THE TUMMY
We used to think that children can ‘eat what they want’ because they are young, but with rates of Autism, ADHD and childhood disease exploding it is time to accept that the opposite is true: Gut bacteria during infancy permanently alters gene expression, brain development and behaviour : What we eat during childhood has a direct influence on our mood, intelligence and immunity as an adult.
Our gut and brain are actually created from the same type of tissue. During fetal development, one part turns into the central nervous system and another develops into the enteric nervous system. They remain connected our entire life.
A typical kids diet of processed food rich in wheat, refined sugar and pasturized dairy causes aggressive, pro-inflammatory gut bacteria to proliferate. The good news is that replacing junk food with organic steak, fish and veggies can repopulate the gut with friendly bacteria in a matter of months, heal inflammation and reverse much of the damage; However once a child reaches mid-teens, any damage to genetic material and grey matter caused by gut inflammation becomes permanent, no matter how friendly gut flora subsequently becomes. The importance of a fresh, natural, organic diet during infancy is thus more important than at any other time in our entire life: A SUPER-FOOD DIET DURING CHILDHOOD WILL ENHANCE BRAIN POWER, HAPPINESS AND IMMUNITY FOR AN ENTIRE LIFETIME !
To ensure your children’s gut bacteria are friendly and health-promoting, meals with lots of raw or lightly cooked organic vegetables, organic meat, eggs, nuts & seeds are the way to go. Full fat organic dairy is also great, as are wild fish and organic eggs.
Foods your children should avoid include all grains (particularly wheat), biscuits and sweets, fat-reduced dairy, hydrogenated oils and all processed fast-foods, as these nourish agressive, pro-inflammatory gut bacteria that attack a child’s underdeveloped intestinal wall, causing gut permeability and allowing harmful toxins to pass via the bloodstream straight into a child’s developing brain where they damage brain development and actively lower IQ.
Our gut-brain connection is impressive: the greatest concentration of serotonin in our body is not produced in our brain but in our gut : natural antioxidants from fruit & vegetables, Vitamin D & Omega 3 from fatty fish boost serotonin levels, enhance memory and boost happiness. Wheat, refined grains, hydrogenated fats, processed sugars, sweeteners (aspartame & sucralose) and GMO on the other hand INHIBIT serotonin production and increase the risk of depression, aggression and ADHD.
If you would like to receive a preview of Daniele's brand new E-book SCRUMMY SUPER-FOOD FOR KIDS to be published in June 2015, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sources: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/all-disease-and-health-begins-gut
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/27/probiotics-gut-health-impact.aspx
