Do your children get enough Omega-3?
Fats can be confusing. We are told to avoid them, but we are also told some fats are good and we must have them to be healthy. You can be sure the good ones won’t be sliding around the bottom of a chip carton. Good fats come mainly in a portion of fresh oily fish, and not one deep fried with batter.
The fats we need are the long chain fatty acids which are essential for our healthy development. From birth, they are provided by breastfeeding. Once weaning begins, our bodies cannot make them and we have to get them from our diet.
The Food Standards Agency is reviewing its advice on fish consumption. Currently it recommends at least two portions of fish should be consumed a week, one of which should be oily. Fish is a good source of protein and minerals, and oily fish is rich in long chain fats Omega-3, which helps brain development and good health.
When babies reach six months old, they need more than just a milky diet and the difficult task of weaning begins. It is hard when mums first reach this stage having had the ease of producing a milk based diet, to start planning out healthy, balanced meals. Representing all the necessary food groups is one thing, whilst getting your child to eat them is another Some babies can be incredibly fussy eaters whether you are giving them healthy food or not.
There is so much pressure to make sure that our toddlers and growing children eat their five a day, drink plenty of water and avoid the temptations of chocolate and other tasty treats, that Omega-3 just becomes part of the blur of health advice that our brains begin to filter out.
This is a problem as we encounter poor school results, anti-social behaviour, and bad concentration, all of which different experts in various studies believe may be combated by ensuring children get enough Omega-3 in their diet.
There are many sceptics regarding the benefits of giving children Omega-3 supplements, but a health study introduced into Durham schools yielded some surprising results.
Working on the premise that Omega-3 fish oil may significantly improve behaviour and concentration in children, Dr Madeline Portwood and Dr Alex Richardson, conducted a study of 47 children taking Omega 3 fish oil supplements for five months.
During this time, parents took ratings of their children’s behaviour and concentration firstly before the test and then afterwards. The results showed that 47 per cent of the children had poor or very poor behaviour before the test. After taking the Omega-3 supplements for just five months, 91 per cent of the children with poor or very poor behaviour improved to good behaviour.
A study at the Linkoping University in Sweden showed possible benefits of taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy to prevent developing allergies in babies.
A 2006 study by the University of Western Australia, and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, showed possible links between the consumption of fish oil by pregnant mums, and improved hand-eye coordination, language skills and behaviour in their babies.
If your child is not eating fish and you are worried about how it is affecting their development, It can be a daunting prospect to consider giving a young baby supplements. If you are struggling to get your baby to eat the right food then try talking to your health visitor.
For more information on Omega 3, check out www.omega4.co.uk. The popular website launched late last year and is dedicated to providing a wealth of knowledge and resources dedicated to all things Omega.
Developed by industry professionals, it contains information, news and research into the benefits of essential fatty acids.
Ecommerce and Direct Marketing Manager, Madeline Spear said: “The many health benefits of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the Omega 3 family are well documented but here in the UK, we don’t generally eat diets rich in Essential Fatty Acids. However, many people are unaware just how beneficial quality omega supplements can be to help to improve many health conditions when taken on a daily basis.
“Our aim is to provide and develop a range of omega supplements at excellent prices which are suitable for use by everyone in the family. Not all supplements are the same and the website helps to educate the consumer about the most effective levels of the key omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA within each capsule. Efficacy is important and we aim to provide this at remarkably competitive prices.”
Infant Omega 3 Twisties
Suitable for babies and infants over 6mths
£15.00
http://www.omega4.co.uk
Always read the label
If you would like to be in with a chance to win one of twenty Infant Omega 3 Twisties, visit our competition page: http://chopsybaby.com/mag/?page_id=258