What does the latest research say about introducing solid foods to infants, improving your memory and the risks of energy drinks for teens? Take a look:
From Liquid to Solid
A new report published by a national information analytics company, Elservier, suggests that more than half of infants in the United States are introduced to solid foods too early or too late. Dramatically changing guidelines and recommendations over the past several decades have led to confusion. In order to provide consistent and reliable guidelines for parents, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are currently developing the first federal dietary guidelines for children under 2 years. It is expected to be released in 2020.
Currently, 6 months is the suggested age to begin introducing solid foods. "Introducing babies to complementary foods too early can cause them to miss out on important nutrients that come from breast milk and infant formula. Conversely, introducing them to complementary foods too late has been associated with micronutrient deficiencies, allergies and poorer diets later in life," explains lead investigator Chloe M. Barrera, MPH, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Reading Out Loud and Exercise Help Memory
A recent study out of the University of Waterloo found that reading out loud helps with long-term memory. The process of speaking and hearing oneself has a significant impact on your ability to remember the information you are consuming—it’s called “the production effect.”
"This study confirms that learning and memory benefit from active involvement," says Colin M. MacLeod, a professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Waterloo who co-wrote the study.
The Waterloo study builds on previous research dedicated to enhancing overall memory retention. Regular exercise and movement also are known contributors to increasing memory function.
In a related report published recently in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, a new guideline for doctors says that they should prescribe exercise, not medication, to improve mild memory and thinking impairments.
"Regular physical exercise has long been shown to have heart health benefits, and now we can say exercise also may help improve memory for people with mild cognitive impairment," says Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic.
The Effect of Energy Drinks and Junk Food on the Adolescent Brain
New research released by the Teratology Society looks at the effects of energy drinks and junk food on teen brain development. These “highly palatable and nutritionally deficient” items are ever-growing in popularity among teenagers, but animal studies indicate they could have adverse effects on learning and memory.
"Our review indicates that we don't know enough about the effects of high consumption of energy drinks and the ingredients found in them at this critical time in mammalian brain development," says lead author Amy Reichelt, PhD, at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
It is widely accepted that overconsumption of junk food contributes to a variety of health issues, including obesity, but it also may be bad for the teenage brain.
"Because key neurotransmitter systems in the brain responsible for inhibition and reward signaling are still developing during the teen years, existing primarily on junk food could negatively affect decision making, increase reward-seeking behavior and influence poor eating habits throughout adulthood," says Reichelt.
Erin McIntosh is a mom of four children, 15, 12, 10, and 6. She works at the Kansas City Art Institute and is also a freelance writer and photographer. She is currently working on her first book, a memoir about single parenting.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.