It is important for children to be able to go to school happy and pay attention in class. Attention refers to the ability to fix the mind on one thing for a period of time (such as focusing on the words on the blackboard, or arithmetic problems in the textbook) and to ignore other also-present stimuli in the mind (such as the nearby chattering of classmates, or yesterday’s TV images you watched).
The Journal of the American Nutrition Association published a study in 2015 that found a relationship between dietary fiber intake and concentration in children. Researchers tested more than 60 students aged 7 to 9, asking them to look at some pictures repeatedly. There are 5 fishes in a straight line in the picture. The students have to recognize the direction that the center fish is facing. To judge accurately, you not only have to focus on the center fish but also resist the interference of the four surrounding fish, as their direction can vary from that of the center fish. This requirement is similar to the challenges faced by children trying to concentrate in class.
Studies have found that children with better attention have more fiber in their diets. Why are dietary fiber and children’s attention related? One reason is the work of probiotics in the intestines. To increase beneficial bacteria in the gut, it is helpful to eat foods containing probiotics such as cheese, sauerkraut, and natto, but more importantly, the probiotics need to have enough food, or they will “starve to death” in the large intestine. Fiber is the food these probiotics need.
Probiotics in the intestines need fiber to grow well. When probiotics digest fiber, they release fatty acids, which reduce inflammation in the body and promote the production of neural growth factors, thereby benefiting brain development, including the prefrontal lobe, which is responsible for attention. Therefore, to improve children’s attention, seemingly ordinary vegetables turn out to be very beneficial.
Occasionally replace white bread with sweet potatoes for breakfast. Make dinner soup with more vegetables. Eat some soup residue. This all helps. To get children to eat more vegetables, parents need to set an example. Eating habits are like other lifestyle habits. Children mainly imitate them from their parents.
Written by: Dr. William Chui
Originally posted on: HKEJ website
Translated by: Cheuk Long Chan
