The Importance of Omega 3 for Kids
The Importance of Omega 3 for Kids
We all want the very best start in life for our children, providing the right amount of vitamins, nutrients and healthy lifestyle habits to help them go on to live vibrant lives. For people of all ages, but particularly for children, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil or alternative vegan oils are a crucial part of their diet that needs to be kept on top of.
Essential fatty acids/Omega 3s support healthy brain function, immune system strength and even fetal development, so it is crucial that your young people get all the omega 3 fatty acid goodness that they need to thrive from an early age.
What are Omega 3s?
Omega 3s are also called essential fatty acids, and they are so-called 'essential' because your body actually can't make them on its own. You have to obtain healthy levels of omega 3 from the foods or supplements you consume on a daily basis.
Omega 3 fatty acids are broken down into three main types of fatty acids. The most important type being docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The other two kinds of fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA and EPA are the omega 3 fatty acids that are found naturally in fish oils and algae, most prominently found in fatty fish like salmon, while ALA is found in a variety of plant-based foods like nuts, some vegetables, seeds and vegetable oils.
EPA and DHA are the two active forms of fatty acids, so they are the most common ones to obtain through edible sources of omega 3. EPA and DHA are not considered equal, however; there are some risks associated with EPA. EPA can prevent blood from clotting and softens blood vessels, which is not useful for children and can cause risks with active bleeding.
The Good Vitamin Co. supplies omega 3 supplements that are completely EPA free, so that you can get all the goodness from DHA, without the risks that come with EPA.
What are the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids?
The health benefits of omega 3s can not be understated. As a child grows, their brain is rapidly developing, every single minute of every single day - with neurons firing and sending messages to other parts of the body as the brain development occurs. Omega 3 fatty acids play a big positive role in the healthy development of children's brains, their attention spans and overall brain health. Their growth and development benefit from omega 3 in the form of supplements, or from an abundance of fish products in their normal diet.
It is suggested in some studies that omega 3 fatty acids may support the management of ADHD symptoms, although we do not claim any such thing, it is interesting to note how often ADHD symptoms are connected with the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids in a positive way.
The effects and benefits of omega 3s on a child's health are well documented to be beneficial in supporting their ability to focus on tasks, curb hyperactivity, improve their memory and even their ability to learn.
Our Kids Omega 3 Supplement contains no fish oil & is completely vegan
Clean sources of omega 3 through fish are becoming more and more scarce as the ocean is polluted heavily by metals, plastics and chemicals. We are warned to provide a healthy intake of omega 3 for our children, but not to feed them too much of this fish or that fish due to mercury poisoning or other contaminants within the fatty fish that the omega 3s come from. This can lead to a bit of a dilemma.
Fish oil supplements are a popular booster for kids who need that extra bit of support from omega 3 fatty acids and the Good Vitamin Co. have our own deliciously chewable DHA packed supplement that kids LOVE - but are totally FREE of fish products. We use flaxseed oil, instead!
Our DHA source is produced from flaxseed oil, instead of any fish or algae oils, which is just as potent with good omega 3s without the moral implications of fish extraction that some lifestyles avoid. Using flaxseed oil instead, our supplements are delicious and taste nor smell fishy at all. In fact, they taste like juicy oranges. YUM. Absolutely no fish friends were hurt in the making of our omega 3 supplement, still providing a healthy dose of DHA through flaxseed oil.
An omega 3 supplement is an easy way to make sure your kids are getting all of the omega 3 goodness they need, without even having to include any fish product as part of their diet (Vegans rejoice!) Being so tasty and chewable, they are easy sources of omega 3 to give your kids on the go.
Are there any risks or side effects of consuming omega 3 or omega 3 supplements?
Like with any vitamin, nutrient or edible food, there are risks involved for some people if there is an intolerance of some kind. Our omega 3 supplements contain no fish products, so if your child suffers from a shellfish allergy, they are still able to take our supplements as they are made with flaxseed oil instead of any fish oils. It is recommended that children with shellfish allergies avoid fish oil supplements including other kinds of fish oil like krill oil and cod liver oil.
Generally, omega 3 supplements only have ever documented very minor side effects that can include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Headaches
- Upset Stomachs
If your child suffers from any medical conditions, it is always best to seek medical advice before starting them on any kind of supplementation, even omega 3 supplements.
The takeaway
And there you have it! Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for your child's wellbeing during their growth and development and the positive effects of omega 3 supplements support their need to do well at school and with peers every day to give them the very best start in life.
Be careful, though, you may need to hide them, as it's hard to stop at just one!