Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for growing bodies. They play important roles in supporting our body’s healthy functioning, in particular our brain function. Ensuring your child receives enough omega-3s is a valuable step towards giving him the best start in life.
Our brains are comprised of up to 20% omega-3 fatty acids. They are thought to be involved in the transfer of electrical signals from brain cell to brain cell. This is the basis of how our brains work. If your child’s brain does not have enough omega-3s it will use a substitute to do their job. The problem is this substitute molecule is nowhere near as efficient as the fatty acid and the result in thinking and motor skills can be impaired. Studies have found up to 40% of children with learning difficulties improved their performance in school with omega-3 supplementation. They also showed improvement in behaviour and attention span. Children with learning problems including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have low levels of omega-3s, and have been found to improve with increased omega-3 intake.
Blood flow is also connected to omega-3’s function in our bodies. Omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the production of chemicals that regulate blood flow. The addition of omega-3s to a diet lacking in them (which is most people’s) has shown to improve blood flow. This in turn increases the brain’s and overall body’s ability to function efficiently. Omega-3s also affect the hormone and immune systems, which are connected to brain function.
Some studies have shown for children with asthma, omega-3s may reduce inflammation in the airways, thus lead to a reduction in the symptoms of asthma. Other research noted that children at risk of type-2 diabetes were less likely to develop the condition when they had a diet rich in omega-3.
The problem is that the modern western diet consisting of highly refined and manipulated foods is no longer naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids. Often oils in our food are treated with a process known as hydrogenation, this extends the shelf life of a product, but it also removes the omega-3 fatty acids.
Seafood is widely recognised as the most abundant source of omega-3 fats. However, accumulation of heavy metals and other toxins, like dioxin, in seafood is a valid concern. An alternative is dietary supplements derived from marine algae. Feeding on these algae is how fish accumulate fatty acids (or eating smaller animals that feed on the algae), and when humans consume from lower down at the food chain, this lessens our environmental impact. Plant based alternatives for omega-3 supplementation can come from flaxseed oil or chia seed oil.
A diet rich in omega-3s or dietary supplementation, is vital in supporting your child’s mental and overall development. Additionally, ensuring that your intake of omega-3s is high during pregnancy is important.
![[Valid RSS]](http://greenparenthood.com/SMO_icons/valid-rss-rogers.png "Validate my RSS feed"){kind=icon}
6 Comments on "The Importance Of Omega-3 For Children"
Amazing information.I would like to get some tips on healthy breakfast which is quick and easy to make.
Keep up the good work.
Very important article. Thanks for sharing.
Great article. I want to get some omega-3 now.
Thank you Alicia, It’s great to see you here.
You’re welcome. Thank you for your visit!
Thank you for stopping by!