| There are seven different essential fatty acids, or | | | | Omega-3 fatty acids. Unless women supplement with |
| what many call simply 'fish oil'. DHA and EPA may be | | | | fish oil, or eat cold water fish several times per week, |
| the most commonly recognized, and are widely known | | | | the baby may not be getting enough DHA or other |
| for their association with lowering risk for heart | | | | essential fatty acids. |
| disease. Kids fish oil DHA supports brain and eye | | | | Since the brain continues to develop after birth, and |
| health, both very important to children's overall good | | | | throughout childhood, babies who nurse from mothers |
| health and development. | | | | who get adequate DHA will benefit; and small children |
| In Wikipedia.com, it states that "Fish oils are rich in | | | | who take a kids fish oil DHA supplement after nursing |
| DHA" and "of all the fatty acids, DHA has the largest | | | | will get the brain and mind boosts that can be such an |
| effect on brain PUFA composition." Wikipedia also | | | | advantage to them for learning and developing. |
| states that "DHA is the most abundant omega 3 fatty | | | | Let's look at some stats. By age 5, a child's brain is 3.5 |
| acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) in the brain | | | | times larger than it was at birth. And at birth, DHA |
| and retina." | | | | makes up about 97% of all the omega-3 fatty acids in |
| We know from both human and animal studies that | | | | the brain - and 93% in the retina. To help maintain |
| when DHA is depleted from the brain or retina of the | | | | these levels, kids should consume DHA on a regular |
| eye, normal vision and nerve development can be | | | | basis. |
| impaired and neurological function is affected. What is | | | | It is standard among many kids that they don't like |
| exciting about fish oil for children is the potential to | | | | fishy tastes. In at least one way it can be better that |
| impact their memory, concentration, and overall mind | | | | kids may not eat enough fish that is the main source |
| skills. | | | | of Omega-3 fatty acids because eating large amounts |
| DHA promotes cell-to-cell communication and supports | | | | of fish that contain toxins like mercury can be |
| the production of brain chemicals that control mood | | | | dangerous. That is where ultra-pure comes in. The |
| and behavior. This is especially important for, and | | | | purification process in a quality supplement, and the use |
| potentially helpful for, kids who have behavior problems | | | | of high quality ingredients, can deliver natural kids fish oil |
| like ADHD or hyper-activity, and issues with moods. If | | | | that is without any fishy taste or any toxins. |
| your child is not eating all of his or her sardines, tuna, | | | | Organic, kosher, and gluten-free are requirements for |
| and organ meats like liver, they may not be getting | | | | some children. All three can be found in high quality, |
| enough DHA. | | | | pharmaceutical grade supplements. Other important |
| Since it is hard to get kids to eat enough fish, | | | | considerations are for kids fish oil supplements to |
| particularly those noted above that contain DHA, there | | | | contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. To |
| have been a lot of scientific studies on supplementing | | | | me, this goes without saying. However, it is not |
| with kids fish oil. The good news in regard to fish oil for | | | | standard from brand to brand, and since kids fish oil |
| children is that there are great options like gummy, | | | | supplements are not regulated by any governing body, |
| flavored chews that kids will prefer over eating fish, | | | | this is something that parents need to diligently |
| and that have been proven effective and beneficial. | | | | research. |
| Plus, taking a kids fish oil supplement can reduce | | | | Improving the health and brain function of our children |
| potential hazards of getting too many environmental | | | | should rate up there as a top priority for families. If the |
| toxins like mercury through eating too much fish. 100 | | | | addition of a kids fish oil supplement can make a |
| mg of ultra-pure DHA has been found to be a | | | | difference in either or both of those, wouldn't we want |
| beneficial daily amount, and is a power-packed way to | | | | to give that advantage to our children? The scientific |
| help kids improve intelligence and possibly even | | | | studies and clinical trials of kids fish oil will continue |
| behavior. | | | | since we have already proved certain benefits. While |
| Today, pregnant women seem to be more interested | | | | that science holds even more promise for the future, |
| in taking fish oil because they are learning more about | | | | we know enough good things now that we should be |
| the benefits it can provide for their babies, and also | | | | finding a way to make it possible for our kids to get |
| because their own diet may be critically low in | | | | their daily dose of kids fish oil. |