Remember the old wives tale that says fish is good for your brain and cod liver oil will help keep you healthy? Apparently, the old wives knew what they were talking about!
Most of us are trying to cut down our fat intake in our diet. However, recent research shows that not all fats are harmful. In fact, a lot of us have deficiencies in some very important fats called the essential fatty acids. These oils are essential to the development of the immune system, and brain functions. A shortage of these oils can lead to problems with concentration, hyperactivity, dyslexia, and coordination problems. Dramatic improvements in performance can result merely by correcting this deficiency, particluarly in children.
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.
The Omega 3 series are missing from much of our daily diet. DHA is one of two oils that are the most important in this series. It makes up as much as 20% of the dry weight of our brains. It’s a major building block of the brain, and therefore is essential to the development of unborn and young children’s brains. Sadly, DHA is hardly ever included in infant formulas.
EPA, the other essential fatty acid, is crucial for brain functioning. Vitamins B6, C, and zinc must be present to make full use of it — our diet is desperately short of these essential nutrients, and some of the processed foods we eat, such as margarine, interferes with their use!
If your children are struggling at school, and especially if they show some of the symptoms of EFA deficiency, you may want to think about increasing the amount of omega 3 oils in their diet. The natural way to do this would, of course, be to eat more fish. Unfortunately, it seems that our fish stocks are getting so polluted that this may be rather risky. Perhaps the safer option is to use a high quality supplement. These are not excessively expensive, and are available in all good chemists and health food shops.
So what do 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.
At the same time use a multi-purpose vitamin and mineral supplement. Look especially for brands containing vitamin B6 (30 mg/day) and zinc (15 mg/day) with the oil. An example of fish oil is Cardioace.
Choose capsules rather than bottles - they keep better. Make sure they include Vitamin E as a preservative.
Use a reliable high quality brand, with fish caught in the deep oceans (not farmed).
Take them daily for 3 months. If after that there is no noticeable improvement, then you can stop the experiment. Very occasionally the oils might give some problems with loose bowels but otherwise are quite safe. Obviously if your child has any specific medical conditions, especially problems with metabolism, you would be wise to consult your doctor first.
by Dr. Noel Swanson
