Omega 3's

It is EPA+DHA that kids’ brains and bodies need in order to develop properly and sadly, where children tend to fall short. Research published in the Journal of Nutrition found that Canadian children 4-8 years old were only getting 22% of the study’s recommended 90 mg of DHA+EPA per day and 61% of ALA recommendations. Canadian kids are not getting the omega 3 benefits they need during these important years.

Childhood obesity is putting our kids at risk of serious health concerns now and into their adulthood, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. These 4 tips can turn this around. Are you raising heart healthy kids?

Will your kids eat fish that is not shaped like a stick and breaded? While convenient fish stick products are often enjoyed by kids, and they do fill the recommended 2-3 servings of fish a week, they are not all that healthy. Fish sticks are a great source of protein but the high level of fat, salt and sugar common in the breading and the low level of Omega 3s found in the cod or pollack often used, puts fish sticks near the bottom of the healthy fish list!

Everyday we hear that healthy eating is about balance with your kids. Balancing their fruit intake with their number of chocolate chip cookies or their choice of French fries versus apple slices at a restaurant. In essence, watching their fat intake and increasing their fruits and vegetables. We are constantly being told to cut back on fat, yet there is one type of fat Canadian children are not getting enough of.

Including a good intake of omega 3 fats, specifically DHA/EPA in your diet, is important for good health. Ever wondered if the 'good for you' omega 3 fats are destroyed during the cooking process? According to research done by Dr. Bruce Holub at the University of Guelph, there is no significant difference in omega 3 content of cooked versus raw fish. In fact, the omega 3 content slightly increases as the moisture is released.

If you ask people what foods to avoid, many are careful of their fat intake. However Omega 3 fats are one type of fat Canadian families are not getting enough of. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential nutrients for health. Essential means that our body can’t produce this important nutrient on its own. We must get omega 3 fatty acids from food or supplements.