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Fish Oils

July 29, 2008

By Ms. Annabelle Moore with Dr. Geary
There has been a lot of attention lately on the health benefits of fish oils, but as a parent, you know that getting your child to take fish oil is a potential challenge. So is the struggle worth it?
As it turns out, the answer is yes: fish oils are really worth adding to the diet. Why? They contain Omega-3 fatty acids that improve your child’s eyesight, potentially their cognitive and learning skills and help prevent asthma and later heart disease. 
We recommend that you and your child eat 2 servings of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids a week to get the full benefits.  Pregnant women who eat the proper amounts of these fatty acids have been shown to have babies with longer attention spans, and to suffer less from postpartum depression. 

The new formulations of baby formula all contain Fish oils in varying amounts, and there are supplements readily available for you and your young child.

The fish that contain higher quality and quantities of the omega-3 fatty acids are:
-  Salmon
-  Herring
-  Mackerel
-  Sardines
-  Anchovies

It is often hard to include that much fish in your young child’s diet. Given that these fish oils are particularly important in the first three years of life, it is important to consider other sources.

If your child doesn’t like fish there are other foods, such as flaxseed and tofu, which contain omega-3 fatty acids. We have had great success with Barlean’s Omega Swirl, a fruit flavored drink not unlike a smoothie candy with flavors they will enjoy.

Posted by AnnabelleMoore | Filed Under Nutrition 

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