DHA Jr. Fish Oil

Key Benefits*

• Supports learning, brain function and cognitive development
• A balanced source of the Omega 3s EPA and DHA that growing kids need for healthy development
• Small easy to chew strawberry-flavored soft gels for kids ages 1-6

Suggested Use

• Take 4 soft gels a day

Description*

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for maintaining a child's overall health. Children need Omega-3s for healthy growth and development, brain function, learning, normal cognitive function, and social development. The brain grows at its most rapid rate from birth up until about 2 years old, although brain development continues throughout childhood and adolescence. Over 60% of the brain is made up of fat and the Omega 3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) makes up around 40% of this. DHA is necessary for the development of the sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor neural (nerve) systems during the brain growth spurt of childhood. The DHA-rich parts of the brain are thought to be responsible for activities such as planning, problem-solving, and focused attention throughout our lifetimes.

Specific Omega 3 recommendations vary for kids of various ages and weights, but one thing is for certain – most kids do not get enough Omega 3s in their regular diet.  The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that individuals age 2+ consume at least 8 ounces per week of a variety of seafood to provide approximately 250 mg of EPA and DHA per day. Most people however, don’t consume the recommended 2 servings per week and as a result, aren’t meeting the dietary recommendations to prevent an Omega 3 deficiency. Research from a national nutrition survey shows that over 2/3 (68%) of adults in the US, and 95% of children don’t consume enough EPA and DHA in their daily diet to meet the recommended intake to prevent a deficiency. Because consuming 2-3 servings of fish a week can be difficult for young children, supplementing with fish oil may be a more reasonable way to meet a child’s dietary needs.

DHA is particularly important because the brain relies heavily on in it for brain growth and development – including learning. DHA Junior is high in DHA – perfect for developing brains. These small easy-to-chew strawberry-flavored soft gels are ideal for kids ages 1-6.