Search:

Home | Family | Parenting


Parenting Advice: Brain Food For Kids - An Old Wives Tale Is True

By: Dr. Noel Swanson...

There is an old wives tale that says fish is good for our brains and cod liver oil will keep us healthy. Apparently those old wives may be onto something.

Although we are all trying to cut down our fat intake, recent research shows that not all fats are bad for you. In fact, many of us are seriously deficient in some very important fats call the essential fatty acids. These oils play such crucial roles in developing the immune system and in brain functioning, that a shortage of them can lead to problems such as poor concentration, hyperactivity, dyslexia, and co-ordination problems. In many cases correcting this deficiency can lead to dramatic improvements in the child's performance.

EFA deficiencies, which are very common, can also cause problems such as eczema, dry skin, dandruff and excessive thirst.

There are two main types of EFA's : the Omega 6 series, which is found in evening primrose and starflower oils, and the Omega 3 series which is found mostly in oily fish (sardines, herring, trout), and also in some nuts. The omega 6 series is involved in the immune system. Many women have found that supplements of evening primrose oil can help with pre-menstrual symptoms.

Most modern diets are seriously lacking in the omega 3 series. Within this series are two oils that are especially important. DHA, the building block of the brain, makes up as much as 20% of the brain's dry weight. Clearly, unborn and young children should get enough of DHA - but it is rarely included in infant feeding formulas.

EPA is the other major oil in the Omega 3 series, and it too is crucial to brain function. To enhance it we also need enough vitamin B6, C and zinc. Once again our diets lack these essential nutrients. To make matters worse, some processed foods, such as margarine, actually counteract their benefits.

You may consider increasing amount of omega 3 oils in the diet of children, especially if they show symptoms of EFA deficiency or are struggling at school. The best way to do this add more fish to their diet. Unfortunately, it seems that fish stocks are suffering at the hands of pollution, so this may be rather risky. Perhaps a better option is to intorduce a high quality supplement. These supplements are not excessively expensive, and are available in all good chemists and health food shops.

What should you look for?

Aim for a daily intake of 1/2 to 1g of EPA. This will normally require a daily total of about 1 - 3g of fish oil. Avoid fish (cod) liver oils - they are too high in vitamin A.

Also use a general vitamin and mineral supplement, or look for brands that include vitamins B6 (30 mg/day) and zinc (15mg a day) with the oil (e.g. Cardioace).

Choose capsules rather than bottles - they keep better. Make sure they include Vitamin E as a preservative.

Use a well-known, quality brand, made from wild ocean fish, rather than those from fish farms.

Use the capsules daily for 3 months. You can stop if you see no improvement at the end of that period. Occasionally the oils can cause loose bowel problems, but they are generally very safe. If your child has metabolism, or other medical problems, be sure to speak with your doctor first.

Article Source: http://www.articlebankonline.com

Dr. Noel Swanson has years of experience in helping parents with child behavior problems. To read more of his expert parenting advice go to his website and check out his GOOD CHILD Guide manual, jammed full of practical parenting advice.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Parenting Articles Via RSS!
Golf Gift Certificates from PurePoint Golf




Additional Articles From - Home | Family | Parenting
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
New Stuff
Sitemap
About Us
Site Blog
Forum
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Chose Your Exact Flight & Time!

Supplement Advisor


Pro Teeth Whitening


Lose Weight


Anti-Aging Skin Care


Fix Golf Slice


 Get Camilo Villegas' Golf Secret

Simple Golf Swing


Cheap Airline Tickets


Blogging To The Bank


Plan Your own Wedding


500 Love making Tips


Approaching Women Tips


Catch A Cheating Spouse

==============

Bird-Watching-101

Blogging 101

Copywriting 101

Kitesurfing -101

Life-Coach 101

Living-Wills 101

Maui-Vacations-101

Stress Managemeny

Subliminals 101

Reiki 101

Friends


U Publish - Free Article Publishing - Article submission and content you can use for free at uPublish.info

Powered by Article Dashboard