Every child has a right to optimal cognitive,
emotional and social behavioral development. These parts of the brain continue
to develop across lifespan. A great deal of brain’s ultimate structure and capacity
is shaped between 0-2 years of life.
The first 1000 days of life,
which includes gestation and the first two years of life, are a vulnerable
period in human development when poor nutrition can have short- and
long-lasting consequences on human health and function. This a
window of
opportunity because it is when improvements in nutrition can have the greatest
impact in individual’s growth and development. Maternal prenatal nutrition and
the child's nutrition in the first 2 years of life (1000 days) are crucial
factors in a child’s neurodevelopment and lifelong mental health. Child and adult
health risks, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, may be programmed
by nutritional status during this period. Calories are essential for growth of
both fetus and child but are not sufficient for normal brain development. key nutrients that support
neurodevelopment include protein; zinc; iron; choline; folate; iodine; vitamins
A, D, B6, and B12; and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Failure to provide key nutrients during this critical period of brain
development may result in lifelong deficits in brain function despite
subsequent nutrient repletion.
The best way to meet the nutritional needs of this crucial stage is to:
- diversify your diet
- take your pre-pregnancy supplements judiciously
- cut down on the use of junks
- minimize/reduce or avoid pica eating
- exclusively breastfeeding your infant in the first 4-6 months of life
- introduce adequate complementary feeding after the first 6 months while introducing one food item at a time
These provide the ideal nutrients for optimum growth and development and protection against illness. Not meeting the nutrients is difficult to reverse any
deficiency effect after this stage and it has both financial and social
implications.
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