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Kids wellness 101: DHA omega-3 fatty acid. Is it essential for your child's health?
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DHA an omega-3 fatty acid is an essential fatty acid, that seems
to play an important role in child brain and eye development and
all kinds of good things for adults, but it's only a small part of
overall wellness.(photo Gabby Jung)
DHA and Omega-3 fatty acids, are said to be essential for your health and for brain and eye development in children, but is it really necessary?
What does DHA do and what doesn't it do?
DHA is a form of omega-3. Repeated science research has shown children's DHA can play a positive role in brain and eye development .
But before we all hail Omega-3, let's remember nothing happens in a vacuum.
Wellness is all about the integrated whole. DHA or anything else, works best when our entire system of mind, body, spirit is balanced.
Is DHA the new Vitamin C?
When I was a kid, it was all about vitamin C. Get your Vitamin C here, get it here, you better get Vitamin C or you'll die.And while this is partly true, it always seemed weird there was this magic bullet, that if I just get enough Vitamin C all will be well.
There is no magic bullet
Well, Vitamin C is certainly good and so it seems omega-3, BUUT, in wellness no one thing will keep you and your child healthy and no one thing will lay you low.
Keep a good balance of mind, body and spirit and you won't need to rely on a single magic bullet, nor will you suffer when one thing goes.
When I Integrate an overall healthy diet with vigorous and relaxing physical exercise and focus on a positive mental attitude when I am with my child, I build, and I help her build, a strong interconnected web that does not fail when one thing droops
Having said that, a few things you should know about DHA or Omega-3 fatty acids.
We cannot manufacture them in our bodies as far as we know. They are synthesized by fish and other animals from the algae they eat. When we eats the fish, we gets the DHA.
Fish with high omega-3
Some of the best fish oil comes from herring and sardines. Not to everyone's taste, but very sustainable environmentally as these fish reproduce fast. I love herring with onions in cream sauce, but it's an acquired taste.
Watch out for the mercury in fish
Also good DHA in those oily fish we hear about; your salmons, your mackerels, your bluefish. But a recent report shows there is mercury in just about every fish. and the higher up the food chain, I'm talking about you tuna, swordfish and shark, the more accumulated mercury.
So be careful of high mercury levels, it causes brain damage - hence the veggie alternative.
Non-animal sources of DHA
But you can by-pass the fish and go directly to the known vegetarian sources of DHA:
Seaweed is the mega food that does so much including containing DHA. You can also eat algae based supplements. Our 22 month old daughter loves seaweed, so don't go thinking your kid won't like it. We give it to her with some rice. Since a little goes a long way, if your tot doesn't go for it straight, mix it into soup or add a little to pasta, chicken whatever.
Other sources of DHA
They're pumpin' DHA into all kinds of foods these days, DHA supplements include milk to eggs to yogurt to pomegranate juice and (much of which is derived from algae). Baby formulas are falling over themselves to offer it.
DHA is a good source of brain building omega-3 fatty acid, but it should be thought of as one piece in your wellness pie.
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