Do You Have Children? Omega 3 Fats Should Be A Big Part Of Their Diet.
Posted by Peter Bertonach | Filed under Health & Fitness
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 children. 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.
You find Omega 3 essential fatty acids in fish oil. Kids are just like adults. They have a minimum requirement for levels of omega 3 in their diet to ensure adequate development and health. The importance of omega 3 in children has now been underscored by the release of a study from the University of Wollongong’s School Of Health Sciences in Australia. In this study it was found that Australian children were hugely deficient in omega 3. Children in the US will be no different.
The study discovered that the average intake of Omega3 fats in children of 3 years was 47 milligrams which was described by the professor undertaking the study as “desperately low”.
There are 2 very important essential fatty acids found in fish oil called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These are the fatty acids known as omega 3. Children in the US and Australia have way too little of these essential fats in their diet. This inadequate intake of omega 3 in children has health implications for the healthy development of our kids.
A child’s requirement for omega 3 fats starts right at conception. The study noted that brain development was extremely fast during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and that for adequate brain development an adequate level of DHA was essential. And it also noted that the first 2 years of infancy was equally important for brain development and placed an equal demand on DHA levels.
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.
I have been supplementing the diet of my children with omega 3 cost effectively and simply. I use the best Omega 3 capsules (which I take myself) and cut the top off and pour the fish oil onto their breakfast and they are unaware it is there.
Parents should be aware that the decisions they make about their children’s diet affects their children’s development. This includes establishing an adequate intake of essential fatty acids in their diet. This can safely, cost effectively and easily be achieved by the mother taking Omega 3 supplements during pregnancy and then adequate omega 3 supplementation in children during infancy and thereafter. Omega 3 supplementation by breastfeeding moms even increases the levels of DHA in mothers milk.
However not all Omega 3 capsules are as good as others. There are many issues relating to the quantity of DHA present in the capsules, the freshness of the fish oil used, (fish oil oxidizes quickly) and the effectiveness of the fatty acids.
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.
Want to know more about Fish Oil? Or more about Omega 3 And Children? Visit Peter’s Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.
Tags: benefits of omega 3, children omega 3, dietary supplements, family, fish oil, fish oil children, health, Health & Fitness, health and fitness, heart, omega 3, omega 3 fats, omega 3 fatty acids, supplements
