Do You Have Children? Fish Oil Should Feature Prominently In Their Diet.
For some years now science has understood the health benefits of omega 3 essential fatty acids. It is now clearly established that these benefits are equally important for the health of our kids. Omega 3 fatty acids are just as important in the diet of our kids, or even more so, than in the diet of adults. And this requirement for omega 3 fats begins at conception.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are primarily found in fish oil. Kids, like adults, have a minimum requirement for levels of omega 3 essential fats in their bodies for proper and healthy development. This has now been emphasised by a new study from the University of Wollongong’s School Of Health Sciences in Australia which has concluded that Australian children are highly deficient in omega 3. Children in America and the rest of the developed world will be the same.
In this study it was found that 3 year old children had an average intake of omega 3 essential fats of 47 milligrams and the professor who undertook the study described this intake as “desperately low”.
The 2 essential fatty acids that are commonly found in fish oil are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). And it is well known that the levels of these essential fatty acids in adults in the US are way too low. This now applies to children. Omega 3 levels in our children are also way too low and there are a range of health implications from this.
The study noted that the demands of omega 3 in children starts at conception and that brain development during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy required a high level of DHA to be available. Equally brain development during the first 2 years of infancy also required adequate levels of Omega3 fats. Kids need omega 3 for adequate brain development and do not have enough.
A child cannot supplement its diet own with omega 3. Children have these decisions made for them by their parents. Parents should consider increasing their own intake of fish oil as well as increasing the amount of fish oil in children’s diets because their own health and the health of their kids depends on it.
And the development of a child’s brain is not the only health issue negatively impacted by inadequate levels of omega 3. Kids have a wide range of health issues many of which can benefit from increasing their intake of fish oil. Kids with levels of omega 3 that are too low exhibit an increased risk of asthma, lower IQ as established on IQ tests, poor visual development, slower brain development and an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to name a few.
Clearly there are serious issues involved when considering the supplementation of omega 3 in children. This can be achieved by increasing their intake of fish however there are various issues associated with this including mercury contamination, the price of fish and the well known dislike of fish by children.
In fact I supplement the diet of my own children with omega 3 fish oil capsules. If children are too young to take capsules it is a simple matter to cut the top off and pour the fish oil onto their breakfast. Children are not even aware that the fish oil is there.
The decisions that parents make about the diet of their children affects the healthy development of their children. Omega 3 supplementation is simple, cost-effective and should be started by the mother from the beginning of pregnancy. Omega 3 supplementation in the mother even increases the levels of DHA in her breastmilk which in turn increases the level of Omega3 in infants who are breastfeeding.
But not all Omega 3 capsules are high quality and there are important issues to understand about the freshness of the fish oil used, the amount of DHA present in the supplements and the effectiveness of the essential fats found in the capsules.
On my website I seek to educate my readers about how to compare the different fish oil supplements available and to tell them which omega 3 supplements I have chosen for myself and my children.
Our side of joy offers a portrait of the family dynamics of a Cuban family through the eyes of identical twins, Michelle(McCray) and Marlene Tamayo. Their story offers an in depth look into the unique bond between sisters, siblings, parents, kids, and significant others. What kind of relationship do these sisters have? Where do they see their relationship in the future? In what ways do the twins touch the lives of their siblings and vice versa? What role did their close relationship to their siblings and parents play in their emotional health?
Matthew and Sarah are just over a year old, and walking is coming… soon. Matthew has taken 4-6 steps in a row before, but never on video. Today, we try again.
Our side of joy offers a portrait of the family dynamics of a Cuban family through the eyes of identical twins, Michelle(McCray) and Marlene Tamayo. Their story offers an in depth look into the unique bond between sisters, siblings, parents, kids, and significant others. What kind of relationship do these sisters have? Where do they see their relationship in the future? In what ways do the twins touch the lives of their siblings and vice versa? What role did their close relationship to their siblings and parents play in their emotional health?
Protect your baby’s hair; learn hair care tips and other effective parenting skills for raising twins in this free infant care video with tips for new parents.
Learn baby skin care tips and other effective parenting skills for raising twins in this free infant care video with tips for new parents.
Take care of your babies’ teeth; learn how to brush babies teeth and other effective parenting skills for raising twins in this free infant care video with tips for new parents.