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What Every Parent Ought To Know About Omega 3 For Kids…

Secrets Of The Super Healthy Revealed!

Parents, Do You Know…

  • How important omega 3 is to growth and development?
  • Who to trust for specific and accurate advice?
  • Exactly what to buy – and, what not to buy?

Omega 3 And Intellectual Potential

If you want your child to reach his or her maximum intellectual potential, the research is clear that plentiful intake of the omega 3 fat DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is essential.

In the US, most kids get hardly any of this healthful fat, found primarily in seafood, in their diets, are most likely missing out on this simple opportunity to boost brain performance.

Most recently, two new studies have confirmed that boosting your child’s intake of DHA as an infant and into the school-age years may be a simple way to generate measurable improvements in their brain function.

Omega 3 Benefits For Kids:

  • Supports healthy brain development
  • Cognitive skills / function
  • Concentration function
  • Supports a healthy nervous system
  • Supports healthy eye function
  • Supports retinal growth and function
  • Supports visual function

In Sweden a study was conducted of 15 year old school children and found that those who consumed fish high in omega 3’s more than once per week had 15% higher grades than those who consumed fish less than once a week. Not only that, another study showed cumulative benefits from prolonged ingestion of DHA may eventually over time have positive effects on school performance. 

Nearly 100% of the time I do a supplement label analysis in the clinic, I notice the parent is buying the wrong omega 3 supplement… either the wrong type, the wrong ratio, or the wrong dose. It is imperative to get this right. I hope this article helps you do just that. Please share this info with others! -Dr. Burns

Omega 3 Specifications For Kids

Type: The 2 key players are DHA and EPA (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid). Other forms include omega-6 and omega-9 (not worth discussing or buying). The plant form of omega-3 is ALA (conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not promising – so, stick to DHA and EPA based supplements). 

Ratio: DHA is the ‘builder’, while EPA is the ‘maintainer’. Therefore, children require more DHA while adults require more EPA. The ideal ratio of DHA to EPA should be 2:1 or greater. Conversely, the ratio for adults should be EPA to DHA of 2:1.

Dosage: There is much confusion about dosage. Most sources are incorrect and far too low. The ideal dose for children is 1,000-1,500mg/day. The ideal dose for adults is 3,000mg.

NOTE: It’s hard to find a high quality product that meets these specifications. Below are a few recommendations from LifeSource, a Christian based supplement company that we trust and recommend.

Links To What We Recommend

DISCOUNT: use coupon code “bydesign” and receive a discount on your order

Omega 3 For Kids (DHA:EPA ratio 2:1)

Omega 3 For Adults (EPA:DHA ratio 2:1)

Why We Recommend LifeSource Omega-3 For Kids

  • NO Artificial Flavors or Preservatives
  • NO Wheat
  • NO Gluten
  • NO Milk or Eggs
  • NO Peanuts, Tree Nuts or Crustacean Shellfish
  • Molecularly distilled and tested for PCB’s, dioxins and heavy metals in each batch, Guaranteed!

What About Cod Liver Oil and Krill Oil?

Neither of these options will meet the ideal specifications listed above (the ratio and dosage of DHA and EPA is suboptimal). Don’t fall prey to good advertising. Stay focused on the details and recommendations listed above!

Source: Wheat Belly, William Davis, MD – 2014
“Fish oil is the only reliable and sufficiently potent source of EPA and DHA. Krill oil, while interesting for its astaxanthin content (a carotenoid similar to betacarotene), provides only a trivial amount of EPA and DHA. Krill is often marketed as having a more highly absorbed phospholipid from of omega-3s, which is true, but it contains so little that you’d have to consume an entire bottle every day to yield sufficient quantity of EPA and DHA. I advocate an intake or 3,000 to 3,600 mg per day (the dose of combined omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA, not fish oil).” “This quantity yields a level of omega-3 fatty acid in the bloodstream of 10% or more, meaning that 10% of all fatty acids in red blood cells are compromised of EPA and DHA, the level that provides maximal protection from cardiovascular disease and a variety of anti-inflammatory benefits.”

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