The food we eat plays an important role in how our brain functions. Here are some tips for enhancing your child’s brain function

1. Is your child anxious, moody, irritable, forgetful or displays low self esteem? Dr. Daniel Amen says that such a person needs to be surrounded by pleasing scents. Smells like cinnamon can arouse strong memories because smell and memory are processed in the same area of the brain. Protein is essential for the brain health of such a child. They should eat lean fish, cheese, beans, and nuts, balanced with complex carbohydrates like whole grain crackers and bread. The also need milk, meat and eggs.
    
2. Is your child unfocused, has a short attention span, easily distracted, or needs excessive one-on-one attention? Dr. Amen recommends reducing or eliminating foods such as cakes, ice-cream, candy, and pastries that can be broken down into simple sugars. This will have a stabilizing effect on the blood sugar level thus improving the child’s energy and concentration. They should eat a high protein diet such as lean meat, low fat cheese, nuts, legumes, fresh fish, and chicken, mixed with healthy portions of vegetables. 
    
3. Is your child over-focused, worries a lot, holds on to hurts, or gets stuck on thoughts and behaviors? Such children need the Serotonin (feel good) levels to be increased. They need a high carbohydrate diet. Foods such as pasta, bread, potatoes, pretzels, and popcorn have a calming effect which Dr. Amen reports can be felt in thirty minutes or less. Chicken, butter, eggs, and green peas also help to raise Serotonin levels 

We are what we eat and what we eat can either hamper or enhance our performance. I hope that these tips will help you to bring out the best in your children as you learn how to support their brain function with the type of foods the need.
Change Your Brain Change Your Life;
Daniel G. Amen, M.D.