Good and effective visual stimulation can help babies to perceive, accept, and process external information more clearly and precisely, form more visual memories in the cerebral cortex, and thus promote brain development and enhance intelligence. Therefore, in the process of a baby's growth, visual development is a crucial link, and adequate nutrition is the material basis for this development.
Nutrient One: DHA
In the photoreceptors of the retina, DHA is the most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, accounting for 50% of the total retinal phospholipids. Infants cannot synthesize DHA on their own and can only supplement it through their diet. Studies have shown that deep-sea fish and seaweed contain relatively rich amounts of DHA, while other foods contain little to no DHA. Infants will primarily obtain DHA from breast milk or formula.
Nutrient Two: Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays a very important role in maintaining normal human vision, especially the ability to see in low light. This is because it is a key raw material for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive substance present in the retina. Vitamin A can be supplemented in a baby's daily complementary foods, such as carrots and animal liver. It should be noted that supplementation of Vitamin A should not be rushed, as excessive intake can easily lead to Vitamin A poisoning.
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Nutrient Three: Taurine
There is a large amount of taurine in the retina, which can improve visual function and promote retinal development. When the taurine level in the retina decreases, both the structure and function of the retina can become disrupted, which is extremely detrimental to visual development. At this point, it is very necessary to supplement taurine as soon as possible. For reference, the taurine content in the following foods (in milligrams per 100 grams of food) is as follows: scallops 827, mussels 655, squid 356, tuna 39, black-bone chicken 169, chicken 18, lean pork 61, beef 43.
Nutrient Four: Antioxidant Nutrients
If the eyes are sensitive to light, oxidative problems can easily occur. In this case, some antioxidants can be supplemented in a timely manner, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and lutein. Vitamin C is sourced from vegetables and fruits, with dark green vegetables being particularly rich in it. Vitamin E is derived from vegetable oils, dark green vegetables, wheat germ, and more. Lutein is a type of carotenoid and has significant preventive and ameliorative effects on age-related eye diseases such as retinal pigment degeneration, macular degeneration, and cataracts. The human body cannot synthesize lutein on its own, and currently, no authoritative nutritional organization has proposed a recommended intake amount for lutein. In fact, supplementing with lutein is very simple and inexpensive; it only requires choosing more dark green vegetables, such as spinach and kale.