Most pediatricians today agree that children aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diets. It’s been called, “one of the biggest nutritional problems facing American children today.”
The brain is made up of 60 percent fat and the substances in omega-3 are the kinds of fats the brain uses to grow and develop. For a variety of reasons, the lack of omega-3 in Western diets is huge.
But the benefits of omega-3 go beyond brain development.
- It has several positive effects on the heart.
- Helps with mood disorders, including ADHD.
- It's good for improving eyesight.
- It supports immune health and joint health and mobility.
Sadly, omega-3 “fats” are not the kind of found in ice cream. That elusive news story in which doctors urge kids to eat more mint chocolate chip will have to wait for another day.
Unfortunately, and perhaps predictably, the richest sources of omega-3 are various types of seafood. Yup, fish. Fish oil to be precise.
But even assuming you could get your 4 year-old to happily consume a nice juicy fillet of mackerel, you’d be buying into another problem: environmental contaminants. Because of the presence of mercury and other pollutants, it’s not safe for kids to eat much, or even any, big, fatty, wild-caught fish.
The Value of Fish Oil
That’s why many parents are turning to fish oil supplements.
One prominent pediatrician who is a strong proponent of fish oil for kids is Dr. William Sears. Sears broke into the mainstream as an advice-giver to parents with The Baby Book [Little, Brown, 1992] and his advocacy of attachment parenting. The typical Western child's diet is horrifying for a host of reasons but Sears calls the lack of Omega-3 "one of the biggest problems facing American children today."
Sears’s reputation notwithstanding, it’s up to parents to use care, common sense and good judgment before choosing fish oil supplements for their kids.
- Know the supplements are not regulated by the government.
- Have a conversation with your pediatrician about dosages and brands.
- Read all labels carefully and make sure any fish oil you bring into your home is marked “purified,” and/or “pharmaceutical grade.”
- Before you invest in supplements, make sure you have figured out a way to get your kid to take them.
The capsules tend to be as big as horse pills and the stuff that comes in bottles is legendary for its nasty taste. Many parents have had success breaking the capsules open and drizzling the contents into oatmeal, juice, yogurt and smoothies.
An order taker at one 800-number purveyor, interviewed by phone in February, 2009, vowed that she takes the supplements daily in "fruity roll-up" form and that they taste great. Chewing is believing.
Expect to pay $20 or more for a monthly supply depending on your child's dosage.
Many medical authorities weigh in with treatises on fish oil supplements including the Mayo Clinic.
Giving children supplements isn't easy and shouldn't be undertaken lightly, but because omega-3 is so important for brain development, and so lacking in most kids' diets, fish oil supplements are one most parents should consider.
Leslie Lindeman - Leslie is an award-winning writer who has published hundreds of articles in dozens of national magazines and newspapers. He published his ...
