Corn Porridge Helps Baby Smarter

According to the Economic Journal, studies by multiple universities and research institutions in the United States over many years have shown that children who had breakfast porridge made of corn before age three tend to perform significantly better academically when they grow up.Breakfast drank cornporridge, these children's academic performance was notably higher than other children's in later years.

The institutions involved in this research include the International Food Policy Research Institute, the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, and Middlebury College.

From 1969 to 1977, researchers provided children with corn porridge at breakfast in Guatemala.The corn porridge was mixed with skim milk powder and sugar. Other children received traditional British oatmeal porridge.2002 to 2004, the researchers returned to Guatemala and collected information from school test scores. Results showed that those who drank corn porridge in childhood scored higher in reading comprehension and non-verbal cognitive tests.Corn is rich in various health-promoting substances, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamin A. Besides these, it contains riboflavin and other nutrients. Compared to rice and wheat as main food sources, corn has 5-10 times more vitamins than rice or wheat. Every 100 grams of corn provides nearly 300 milligrams of calcium, almost the same as dairy products. Xiangya Hospital Nutrition Professor Li Huiming pointed out that corn contains high levels of glutamic acid, which promotes brain cell metabolism and has a certain cognitive function.

The fat in corn also contains various vitamins, beneficial for preventing cellular oxidation and aging, and advantageous to intelligence development.Furthermore, the fatty acids in corn fat mainly include oleic and linoleic acids, all of which are beneficial nutrients for intellectual development. For teenagers, frequently consuming fresh corn is beneficial for cognitive development. However, since it's less convenient for young children, drinking corn porridge instead is more suitable.Research also confirms that the first three years after birth are a "window of opportunity," where nutritional programs implemented during this time have a greater impact on intellectual development. China CDC Nutrition and Food Safety Institute Deputy Director Ma Guansheng noted that academic performance is influenced by multiple factors. The quality of breakfast, whether it's eaten or not, and its nutritional adequacy can affect a child's memory and academic performance. Currently, there are larger issues with monotonous breakfasts for children and teenagers. A rich breakfast should include four categories: grain foods like steamed buns, noodles, bread; meat; dairy products; vegetables, and fruits.For children who regularly have toast and milk for breakfast, replacing the milk with corn porridge can be appropriate. However, parents need to consider providing more diverse breakfast options beyond just corn porridge and milk. The vitamin content in corn is 5 to 10 times that of rice and wheat, with every 100 grams providing nearly 300 milligrams of calcium, almost as much as dairy products.

Professor Li Hui Ming from the Nutrition Department of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University points out that the glutamic acid in corn is relatively high. Glutamic acid can promote brain cell metabolism and has certain brain health benefits. The vitamins in corn fat are also abundant, which helps prevent cellular oxidation and aging, as well as benefiting intelligence. Moreover, the fats in corn mainly contain unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and oleic acid, which are also beneficial for intellectual development.

For adolescents, frequently eating fresh corn can be very good for intellectual development. Since it's not easy for young children to eat corn directly, drinking corn porridge is more suitable.

Research has shown that the first three years of life are a "window of opportunity." Implementing a nutritional plan during this time will have greater effects on child intelligence development.

According to Vice Director Ma Guan Sheng from the Nutrition and Food Safety Institute of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, academic performance is influenced by many factors. Not having breakfast or lacking sufficient nutrients in the morning meal can affect children’s memory and academic performance. Currently, a major issue with children’s breakfasts among school-aged youth is monotony. A rich breakfast should include four categories of food: grain foods such as steamed buns,noodles,bread,

meat products,milk and dairy products, and vegetables and fruits.