Pregnant mother’s diet impacts infant’s sense of smell, alters brain development

A major new study shows that a pregnant mother’s diet not only sensitizes the fetus to those smells and flavors, but physically changes the brain directly impacting what the infant eats and drinks in the future.

“Many diseases plaguing society involve excess consumption or avoidance of certain kinds of foods,” said Restrepo, a professor of cell and developmental biology. “Understanding the factors that determine choice and ingestion, particularly the early factors, is important in designing strategies to enhance the health of the infant, child, and adult.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101201095559.htm?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4cfe4ab394760f50%2C0