Baby Brain Boosters
Exercise and Stay Stress-free
Regular exercise has baby brain boosting powers. According to a study published in the American College of Sports Medicine women who maintained a moderate to high volume of weight-bearing exercise throughout their pregnancy had newborns who demonstrated advanced neurodevelopment at five days of age. The same kids were tested at age five and scored significantly higher on oral language and general intelligence tests than kids born to non-exercisers.
Exercise improves lipid concentrations in pregnant women; since healthy fats are proven to have a dramatic effect on brain development this could be a factor. Exercise also reduces stress. “Regular exercise, even if it's just taking a walk, is one of the best ways to reduce stress,” says Tracy Bale, the lead author on a University of Pennsylvania study that linked maternal stress with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
