The baby's brain needs to be nourished with protein To function and grow. These are natural organic chemical compounds that in the intestine break down into their smallest compounds: amino acids. They are the bricks with which the cells are built in addition to fulfilling other vital functions such as the regulation of enzymes and the transport of nutrients.
As we have seen baby's brain It grows rapidly in its first two years of life and then, in childhood, it continues to increase in size and neuronal connections. Actually, although in adolescence it stops growing in size our brain continues to change and develop throughout our lives, although the initial basis is of enormous importance.
With the brain we learn, feel, take care of our body consciously and unconsciously, dream, live. It is a fascinating organ from which we continue to learn many things.
And one of the most important elements to keep it properly functioning and nurtured are proteins, especially for its role in the production of neurotransmitters, which are what allow signals to pass from one neuron to another.
The amino acids There are many that use the human body, but there are some of which there is an urgent need to be ingested, since our body is not able to synthesize them directly. The others can be created by recombining existing amino acids in the diet, but these so-called “essential amino acids” are indispensable, since we could not create them or use the others for their basic functions.
Essential amino acids
Some amino acids cannot our body synthesize them from others, and to obtain them it is important to include foods that already contain them in the diet. It's about the essential amino acids.
Some of them have specific functions in the functioning of the brain although all are used for the general regulation of the organism, so their inclusion in the diet is also important to nourish the brain. I will highlight those that are directly used in the organ of thought.
Histidine It has a primary role in the composition of hemoglobin and is therefore important for the transport of oxygen in the blood. But it is also essential for the formation of myelin sheaths that protect neurons. The most important for brain development are the following:
Isoleucine It is used in the formation of hemoglobin and in the stabilization of blood glucose.
Leucine It influences the regulation of blood sugar and the production of growth hormone.
Phenylalanine It is used by the brain for the production of the substance that transmits signals between nerve cells and contributes to alertness.
Tryptophan It is of enormous importance. This amino acid fulfills in the brain the function of helping you relax and fall asleep, as well as being essential for the production of serotonin, one of the substances that promote brain connections.
Non-essential amino acids
The non-essential amino acids they are those that can be synthesized in the organism from other substances. We can mention arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, ornithine, proline, serine, taurine and tyrosine. Many of them are important as regulators of brain activity, the formation of neurotransmitter substances, hormones and protection of neuronal connections.
Needs and origin of dietary proteins
Each living being needs and produces different and different proteins, some directly from their diet, others by synthesis.
Babies have high protein needs and it is important that they have them, first through milk, with the mother having all the necessary ones. Later, a balanced diet should include them, but without excesses.
If proteins are scarce in the diet, there is a serious risk of malnutrition and multiple disorders may occur, including those related to brain function. If an excess of protein is ingested these are partly converted into energy and partly eliminated by the kidneys, which is a dangerous overload especially in babies.
In Western society, the problem, rather than protein shortages, is its excessive consumption, since it has been confirmed that more and more inclusion in the diet of fats and proteins is increasing, becoming worrying.
Proteins can be found in foods of animal origin such as meats, fish, milk and eggs and also in foods of plant origin such as legumes, cereals and nuts, which although they do not contain all the essential amino acids, conveniently combined are an important source of these nutrients that also have lower rates of saturated fats.
It is recommended that infants take 1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilo of weight per day, an amount that in children is 1 to 1.2 grams per kilo of weight per day. We adults have lower requirements.
Foods that contain protein
Foods of animal origin: meat, fish, eggs and dairy products contain all the essential amino acids. The egg is considered the best balanced protein intake.
But alright the most complete protein foods they are meat, fish, eggs, milk and their derivatives, cereals proteins, soybeans and the rest of the legumes, as well as nuts are also interesting and achieve in their proper combination the necessary contribution of the essential amino acids. In reality, all our foods in their natural state will contain proteins, if only in small amounts, except refined sugar and pure fats.
Conclusion
The correct functioning and growth of baby brain requires a protein intake adequate, neither in excess nor in defect, being important the contribution of all the essential amino acids by means of a balanced diet.
