Besides being Madonna's chef, Mayumi Nishimura is the author of a macrobiotic cookbook called "Mayumi's Kitchen." It details how to prepare whole grains, vegetables and beans, as well as seafood, fruit, pickles and nuts. That's great news for expecting Madonnas, since new research has shown that for pregnant women, eating a nut-rich diet in the first trimester is linked, to a child's improved cognitive function - including attention capacity and long-term working memory.
Spanish researchers had 2,208 expecting mothers fill out a questionnaire during their first and third trimester. Then, after the mothers gave birth, researchers tested their children for cognitive function at 18 months, and 5 and 8 years old. The researchers found that moms who had eaten the most nuts in their first trimester had kids with the highest cognitive scores.
The nuts the researchers asked about - walnuts, almonds, peanuts (OK, legumes!), pine nuts and hazelnuts - all contain high levels of folic acid, essential in every aspect of fetal development. They also contain the fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, which are great for all-round neural and cognitive development, since they tend to accumulate in the frontal areas of the brain that are responsible for memory and attention span.
Bottom line: As the researchers put it, "Nut intake during early pregnancy is associated with long-term child neuropsychological development." While the researchers found that just over 3 ounces a week is enough to make noticeable improvements, they say that once a day is the smarter move! We agree.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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