Want your kid to grow smart?
SMART mothers know that in the New Age World, being smart has advantages in life. They give their child supplements containing Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) from fish oils, as they know it is important for their child to grow up smart.
Omega-3 DHA for complete brain development
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is touted as brain nutrition. Just as bones need calcium, brains need DHA to ensure healthy growth of the nerves. This makes sure the electrical impulses move quickly throughout the brain and therefore, the brain can process information faster.
In a nutshell, the more welldeveloped the nerves in the brain, the faster it is able to process information, which translates to higher IQ and smartness.
Various research show that omega-3 can help support healthy brain function, concentration, learning and behaviour.
The Docosahexaenoic Acid Oxford Learning and Behaviour Study1 (DOLAB Study) shows that giving 600mg/day of omega3 DHA to children aged seven to nine years old for 16 weeks helps improves reading and behavioural of underperforming children in mainstream primary schools.
A senior researcher at University of Oxford, Dr Alex Richardson says, “The results showed that taking daily supplements of Omega-3 DHA improved reading performance for the poorest readers (those in the lowest fifth of the range) and helped these children to catch up with their peer group.”
Kids and DHA
The dietary sources of DHA are oily fishes like tuna, salmon, mackerel and trout.
The World Health Organization recommends 200–250 mg EPA + DHA combined for children aged six to 10 years old.
However, only parents will know how difficult it is to get a kid to eat fish regularly because of the fishy taste and the risk of choking on fish bones.
As such, giving your kid a good omega-3 fish oil supplement is the best way to ensure he gets the all-important DHA on a daily basis.
However, not all omega-3 fish oil with DHA for kids are the same. The smart choice for a smart mother is to choose one that:
– Has omega-3 fish oil with optimal levels of DHA – an ideal product should have 133mg DHA per burstlet.
– Has chewable burstlets with a tasty content as kids find it fun to chew rather than to swallow capsules.
– Tastes great with no fishy aftertaste, increasing acceptance of the product.
– Is safe and free from mercury and heavy metals.
■ This educational article is brought to you by Nature’s Way.
References
Richardson et al. Docosahexaenoic Acid for Reading Cognition and Behaviour in Children aged 7-9 years; A RCT (the DOLAB Study) PLOS One 2012, Volume 7: 9
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Fats and Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition. Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food And Nutrition Paper. 2010;91:10.