For parents, nothing could be more important than making sure that children are receiving proper nutrition in their formative years — because what they receive now will impact them for the rest of their lives.
And when it comes to nutritional choices, consumption of a high-quality omega-3 DHA is as important as it gets.
What is Omega-3 DHA?
At a glance, omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fats which are essential for our health. Out of all types, the main and most important omega-3 are: ALA, DHA and EPA.
ALA, the most common omega-3 fatty acid in our diets, is mostly found in vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flaxseeds, and leafy green vegetables (such as kale or spinach). The human body generally uses ALA for energy so is not sufficient to maintain good health.
EPA and DHA are long-chain fatty acids that come mainly from marine sources, including fatty fish and algae. Our body uses EPA to produce signaling molecules called eicosanoids which play numerous physiological roles and reduce inflammation while DHA is a key component of all cell membranes and is found in abundance in the brain and retina.
Health Benefits of Omega-3 DHA?
DHA are structural components of neurons in the brain and eye and have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties (Bernstein et al). Numerous studies and researches across the globe have proved the beneficial effects DHA has in different aspects of health. Some ideas are mentioned in González & Báez’s research:
The consumption of DHA could have cognitive, as well as cardiovascular, beneficial effects.
Those infants fed with the DHA enriched baby food have shown more mature visual-evoked potential acuity.
Furthermore, DHA is also associated with cardioprotective effects so their levels in your blood are correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular events; higher DHA levels link to the protective coronary heart disease (CHD) biomarkers.
On the other hand, lacking sufficient omega-3 will affect people negatively. Particularly, several observational studies in children have identified deficiencies and imbalances of DHA are positively correlated with impairments in cognitive and behavioral performance of the child (Bernstein et al).
Why an Organic, Plant-Based Omega-3 DHA is the Best Choice
DHA comes mainly from marine sources, including fatty fish and algae. However, due to the health and environmental concerns regarding fish oil such as contaminated ocean, chemicals found in fish, fish stock depletion, algae is a better option. Furthermore, for vegan-diet and people with crustacean allergies, omega-3s from algae is the only viable choice.
Eversea offers the safest, purest option on the market for an organic, plant-based omega-3 DHA, and it comes in a great-tasting fruit drop that kids will love.
