Show Doctor Doctorin 11 in the Kitchen by by Laurence M. M Hursh M MD M.D. D. D Consultant National Dairy Council NUTRITION AND MENT MENTAL L DEVELOPMENT One need only to have children to be totally interested when the discussion turns to the relationship relationship relation relation- ship infant nutrition and mental development We all want our children to have as great a mental capacity as possible And it goes without saying that peace in the future world will depend in no small I part upon the intelligence of people everywhere If a man is mentally retarded as well as starving in a foreign country he will not cot be able to choose what form of government I tie he wants or needs He lie will be solely solely sole sole- ly Iy concerned with filling his belly If his children are malnourished malnourished mal mal- nourished hence subject to arrested arrested ar ar- rested mental development the people of of that country will not 43 is s we would hope be able to demonstrate for themselves the virtues of a democratic society Million Undernourished Its It's estimated that approxImately two two thirds thirds of the worlds world's s children million youngsters youngsters young young- are undernourished and have some degree of retardation of growth as a result of low nutrition nu nu- Thus it is that lion ton research I is now investigating ing one of the most important problems facing mankind What is the evidence that has excited nutrition researchers Most of the evidence of a relationship relationship rela rela- between nutrition and mental development comes from overseas nutrition studies and from brain chemistry and animal behavior studies It has not been United States children and family situations that have produced the evidence though malnutrition Isa is isa isa a serious problem in our nation But the so-called so developing nations na na- have served as a sort of world laboratory unfortunately full of human subjects whose condition could be directly studIed studied stud stud- I led and attempts made to improve their lot The proof oi ot brain damage being be be- ing caused by malnutrition is not iron clad Genetic and other environmental factors are difficult to separate out But overseas where this has been done the evidence is so strong that scientists scientists generally now believe that lack of proper diet especially if coupled with infection retards or reverses mental development Brain Growth Early More Afore than 80 of total brain growth of the human takes place during the first three years of life If the mother while pregnant preg nant pant or during lactation also suffers from malnutrition the tM hater later la later ha- ha ter mental development of the baby may be retarded as much muchas as 10 30 to 25 2510 below normal According to UNICEF News studies show that definitely affects mental development development develop develop- ment and eventual mental performance per of children Infants who show superior mental abilities shill abili ties from early neurological examination examination ex ex- can within a year because Of f poor nutrition decrease decrease de de- crease to lower than normal Such changes are cellular and irreversible sible Bible United States States' Need Need What does all this mean to the United States in terms of our own people people- In my opinion it suggests that it is of paramount importance that we set our own house in order making sure that no avoidable mental defects contribute con tribute to the admittedly giant problems that already beset US in terms of American individuals who are unemployable or nearly so Part of the preventive program program program pro pro- gram must include nutrition And within the concept of nutrition milk is the paramount food for forthe forthe forthe the infant and vital in the diet of youngsters of-youngsters and pregnant and lactating women whether it be for healthy physical or mental abilities |