Brain Food for Children

Fish oil has been lauded for years as the heart friendly fat. However it is becoming more and more apparent that it is good for more than your heart: Grandma's health theories on fish as brain food are getting the nod from an accumulating number of scientists, as experts claim that omega-3 contained in fish oil is also essential to maintain a healthy brain - particularly in growing children.

Food for thought: Our brains are composed of a 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty-acids. For a healthy brain it is essential to maintain this balance. The bad news is that western diets on average have twenty times more omega-6 fats (from a high consumption of meat and dairy) than omega-3 fats – a spectacularly unhealthy ratio of 20:1. Some researchers even go as far as to say that this 20:1 imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may have lead to a rise in a variety of mental disorders, including hyperactivity in children, depression, brain allergies, and schizophrenia.

The good news is that the current imbalance can be corrected. In fact, according to a study funded by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, adding omega-3 fatty acids to an infant formula significantly boosted the average intelligence scores in a group of children. Fish oil has also been lauded for the relief it has given to migraine sufferers: in a recent US study, 9 of the 15 subjects tested showed reduction in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks while on the fish oil.

By supplementing a normal diet with fish oil, eating more omega-3-rich fish – like salmon and mackerel – by eating less sugar, and by avoiding margarine and other fatty acids found in partially-hydrogenated oils (avoid supermarket oils and salad dressings unless they are clearly labelled "cold-pressed" or "extra virgin"), we can correct the imbalance and thereby feed the brain the food it needs.

For more information on Omega-3-rich fish oil supplements for both adults and those specially formulated for children, please contact G&G on 0845 330 2205, www.gandgvitamins.co.uk.