7 Things You Didn’t Know about Omegas and Your Child’s Health

child studying

Today, we have a guest post from Warren Maggin* (BHSC. (Nutr. Med.) GRAD. CERT. (Hum. Nutr.) Clinical Nutritionist and Nordic Naturals Spokesperson) regarding the importance of omegas in a child’s diet.

Now that your child is back to school, it is important to give them the nutrition they need to stay focused and attentive. Nourishing meals rich in omega-3 are important to give your child the extra head start they need. Research has proven that a daily dose of omega-3 supplements may boost brain activity in children.

Below are 7 things you didn’t know about omegas for your child’s health:

1.      Essential fatty acids are necessary to remain healthy

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish and fish oil that are essential for healthy foetal, infant, and child development.

2.      Omega-6 isn’t as healthy as it sounds

It is hard to avoid omega-6 as they are highly abundant in the modern Western diet. It is advisable to swap some of your child’s grain based foods such as bread and pasta for more fruits and vegetables such as berries, mangos, leafy greens, squash and cauliflower.  When cooking, try to avoid soy, safflower, sunflower or ‘vegetable’ oils as these are considerably higher in omega-6 than most other oils.

3.      Omega-3 can be found in food

Cold water fish such as salmon and sardines contain high levels of omega-3, as well as free-range eggs and natural yoghurt. Although adding these to your child’s diet will definitely increase their omega-3 levels, balancing their omega-6 and omega-3 is important. Your child would have to eat an abundant amount of fish to even come close to tipping the balance in most household circumstances. That is why a fish oil supplement may be of benefit.

4.      Fish oil supplements are all different

The many natural features of fish oil which make it so beneficial for adults, apply equally, if not more so, to children. To ensure safety from toxins and free radicals, and to avoid a fishy aftertaste or burps, choose a supplement that is third-party tested for purity and freshness, with a certificate of analysis available to demonstrate this. Only third-party analysis can verify the quality of a fish oil supplement.

5.      Children lack omega-3 in their diet

The vast majority of children are not getting enough EPA and DHA because they do not regularly consume enough cold-water fish, either because they are picky eaters or because it is simply not available to them.

Although adding omega-3 foods in their diet is beneficial, due to the large amounts of omega-6 in the modern Western diet there may often still be an unbalance. A fish oil supplement that includes both EPA and DHA will ensure your child gains an adequate amount of these essential nutrients.

6.      Cognition and learning improvements with omegas

DHA is essential to normal brain function throughout life, supporting development, memory and learning. There is strong scientific evidence that both EPA and DHA help contribute to overall cognitive health, and research consistently shows that fish oil is associated with higher cognitive performance in children.

7.      Omegas may benefit mental health and behaviour

EPA and DHA have also shown positive effects on mood and behaviour, and may promote improved learning capabilities in a school setting.

This is why it is important to ensure that children have enough of these important essential fatty acids in their daily diet.

 

For information visit www.researchnutrition.com.au or call 1800 110 158.    

Always read the label. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.

 

* Warren is a Clinical Nutritionist who specialises in the treatment of chronic immune disorders, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances through the principles of Functional Medicine and a highly individualised approach to patient care.
Warren is the National Technical Educator for Research Nutrition (an Australian based Functional Medicine advisory) supporting naturopathic and medical practitioners in their use of functional pathology testing and nutritional prescriptions and their role within the basis to modern integrative health management.
Warren also lectures in Nutritional Medicine at the Endeavour College of Natural Health in Brisbane, Australia.

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