New Health Experts Q&A Women’s Health Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

What foods should pregnant women eat that are good for their baby’s intellectual development?

Asked by:Aven

Asked on:Apr 18, 2026 12:24 AM

Answers:1 Views:412
  • Bird Bird

    Apr 18, 2026

      Every expectant mother wants a baby healthy They are also smart, so when you are pregnant, you need to eat more food to nourish your baby's brain. The development of the brain requires a variety of nutrients, among which protein nutrition is the most important. If sufficient nutrients can be supplied during infancy and early childhood to provide necessary substances for the increase of brain cells and functional differentiation, it will play a vital role in the baby's brain development and intellectual development. So what should pregnant women eat that is good for their baby’s intelligence? What are the dietary principles for pregnant women? Next, I will introduce them one by one for your reference.

      What should pregnant women eat that is good for their baby’s intelligence?

      1. Apple

      Apples are rich in zinc, which can enhance memory and promote active thinking. Apple is a fruit with comprehensive nutrition and functions. Expectant mothers can choose to eat it in different styles such as apple porridge or apple salad.

      2. green onions

      Green onions contain an ingredient called "prostaglandin A". Regular consumption can relax small blood vessels, promote blood circulation, and make people's minds more flexible.

      3. Quail

      The medicinal value of quail is relatively significant. The meat of quail and wolfberry are stewed and taken at the same time. It has the effects of strengthening the brain, nourishing the mind, and improving intelligence, so it is very suitable for expectant mothers to eat. Quail meat contains rich lecithin and cephalin. nerve Nutrients indispensable for activities fetus Brain training is very beneficial.

      4. Banana

      Bananas can help the brain produce a chemical component, serotonin, which stimulates the nervous system and is great for promoting brain function. You should eat more fresh fruits. Bananas are rich in nutrients, but you should pay attention to the amount of consumption. Do not affect your appetite for dinner due to excessive consumption.

      5、egg

      Eggs are one of the most important sources of nutrition for pregnant women and are very helpful for fetal brain development. Eggs mainly contain 8 kinds of amino acids necessary for the human body, rich in lecithin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc. Eating eggs by pregnant women is beneficial to the development of the baby's brain. Mothers can choose a variety of methods to prepare eggs and combine them with other dishes, such as egg and vegetable puree, to avoid getting bored with one egg-making method. It should be noted that because eggs are not easy to digest, don’t eat too much at one time and be careful in their preparation.

      6. Walnuts

      Pregnant women eating more walnuts can help fetal brain development. The main component of the fat contained in walnuts is linoleic acid glycerol, which can supply the needs of the brain matrix. The trace elements zinc and manganese contained in it are important components of the pituitary gland and can strengthen the brain. You should eat more nuts, but they should be ground or made into paste before eating, and the amount at one time should not be too much. If you also feel that walnuts are not delicious or do not believe in their nutritional value, you can add some walnut kernels when you make soy milk to drink. This will be more nutritious and can help the fetal brain development.

      7. Jujube

      Jujubes are also particularly rich in folic acid, which is involved in the formation of blood cells and promotes the development of the fetal nervous system. Therefore, folic acid must be supplemented during pregnancy, and eating some red dates is the best way to supplement folic acid. Jujubes contain vitamin A. Generally, expectant mothers need 20%-60% more vitamin A than non-pregnant women. Vitamin A concentration in maternal blood decreases in early pregnancy, rises in late pregnancy, and decreases during labor. Postpartum It has risen again, so proper vitamin A supplementation is very necessary for expectant mothers.

      Pregnant women should pay attention to three principles of diet

      1. Comprehensive principle

      The human brain is mainly composed of nutrients such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins (B, C, E) and calcium. Nutritional intake must be comprehensive. Nutritionists recommend that it is best to consume 40 kinds of food every day, at least 14 kinds.

      2. Natural principles

      That is to select foods that have outstanding contributions to fetal intelligence from home-cooked natural foods as the main body of the three-meal structure. Such as rice, millet, corn, red adzuki beans, black beans, walnuts, sesame, red dates, enoki mushrooms, kelp, seaweed, peanuts, quail eggs, meat, chicken, fish and shrimp, strawberries, kumquats, apples, bananas, kiwis, lemons, celery, bell peppers, lotus root, tomato , carrots, quail, Grape , nuts, etc.

      3. Balance principle

      Research has confirmed that when fat intake accounts for 30% of the body's total heat energy, protein accounts for 15%, and carbohydrates account for about 55%, the human body will reach a good balance. As far as fat is concerned, it is best to achieve a balance of saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, that is, a ratio of 1:1:1. As for the two mineral elements calcium and phosphorus, the optimal ratio is 2:1. However, it is difficult to be so detailed in life. As long as you eat a wide range of foods and are not partial or picky about your food, it will be more or less the same. In addition, the following are 4 types of foods that pregnant women need to eat more. Pregnant women must have a balanced intake for the health of their babies.

      (1) Foods that supplement iron

      Insufficient iron can lead to low IQ in the fetus. During pregnancy, the mother-to-be needs to absorb double the amount of iron to provide adequate oxygen to the fetus. Nutritionists remind expectant mothers: Many people already have insufficient iron levels in their bodies when they first become pregnant. If they do not replenish enough iron in time, the fetus will Uterus The body cannot absorb enough oxygen, resulting in stunted development and low IQ. Recommended intellectual foods are lean beef, chicken and fortified breakfast cereals.

      (2) Eat more foods that increase the number of fetal brain cells

      The number of fetal brain cells is about 125,000 at 8 weeks of pregnancy. By the 19th week of pregnancy, it may have increased to 20 billion cells, and then gradually decreases. By the time of birth, a normal newborn has at least 10 billion brain cells. Recommended intellectual foods include egg yolks, chicken livers, pig kidneys, pig brains, pig hearts, lean meat, soybeans, etc., which basically provide the amino acids needed for the formation of various brain cells.

      (3) Supplement foods that promote rapid growth of fetal brain wiring

      Starting from the 18th week of pregnancy, the increase in the number of brain cells has reached its peak, but the wiring produced by brain cells is rapidly increasing in length, number, and branches. At this time, pregnant women should eat more foods that can promote the rapid growth of fetal brain wiring. Recommended intellectual foods include peanuts, egg yolks, chicken livers, pig kidneys, pig hearts, lean meat, beans, seaweed, etc.

      (4) Supplement foods rich in vitamins

      Provides balanced nutrition needed for fetal development. You may pay more attention to your diet when you are pregnant, but no one can be foolproof. Daily vitamin supplements will help ensure the balance of vitamins and minerals needed for fetal growth, such as folic acid and vitamin b12 for making red blood cells, vitamin c that can prevent congenital malformations in the fetus, vitamin d that strengthens bones, and zinc that is beneficial to fetal brain development. Recommended intellectual foods include orange juice and strawberries.