Fish Oil for Children—the Big Catch

Thomas was hyperactive and very frivolous with his chapters. At 12 years of age, his parents started noticing a slight transformation in him.He started becoming more organized than before--the reason being attributed to a regular dosage of fish oil for children. There were differences in his keenness to perform, overall attention span and the ways in which he behaved with his peers and teachers alike. Going a long way in alleviating the signs of autism, dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); the role of kids fish oil is quite promising.

Is fish oil the right source for Omega -3?

Oil fish like sardines, mackerel or salmon are high in natural Omega-3 fatty acid—a vital ingredient for brain functions and overall cardiac health. In today’s time, the diet presented to your child boasts of paltry levels of oily fish, thus leading to a deficiency of omega-3. Reputed brands are now promoting the goodness of omega-3s in their kids fish oil products. Whether it is about delivering burned omega-3 in specially manufactured sliced bread or yoghurt or offering it in the form of strawberry-flavored, chewy, fish oil supplements—inclusion of fish oil in your child’s diet is important.

How do I believe that Omega -3 will help my/my child’s mental and physical state?

Well, here is what we can tell from research studies conducted by scientists. They have managed to establish that healthy adults with lower levels of omega-3 are more likely to be pessimistic, depressed and impulsive than their counterparts. Presence of adequate levels of Omega-3 also helps patients with a history of borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. However, when it comes to a child’s academic performance and behavior, the evidences are slightly mixed. It’s true that omega-3 supplements are helpful for children with certain developmental disorders like ADHD, autism, or dyspraxia. However, parents stuffing their healthy kids with fish oil pills at the breakfast table should be aware that behavioral problems with kids are generally multi-factorial in nature and cannot be treated by fish oil alone.

So, what is the way forward?

Fish oil supplementation for kids is a raging topic among parents and health care advisors alike. Expensive and often beyond the reach of some families, fish oil pills and add-ons are known to be good for your child’s heart too. So, if you are not being able to serve at least two portions of fish to your child every week (one of which should definitely be oily: tuna (fresh), trout, sardines, salmon, mackerel and herring); you may rely on cod liver/fish oil for their omega-3 intake for the required nutritional worth.

In a nutshell, fish oil is an important part of your child’s diet—in its natural form or through supplements and pills. Are you ready for the big catch—in the form of fish oil for your kid?