Want your kid to be a star student? Feed him fish.
We’ve long known that omega-3s are important for developing and maintaining healthy brain tissue. Now, new research shows that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly improves cognitive function.
In the study, 175 healthy four-year-old children were randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg/day of DHA or a placebo. They were tested for various types of cognitive function before and after the supplementation.
At the end of the study, researchers found a 300 percent increase in blood levels of DHA in the supplemented group. They also found a significant association between a higher level of DHA in the blood and better performance on a test that measures listening comprehension and vocabulary. What’s more, for each one percent increase in blood DHA, the percentile rank on the cognitive test improved by up to nine points.
DHA is found primarily in cold-water fish like salmon. But if your little ones are finicky about fish, you can still give them the benefits by supplementing their diets with a yummy supplement like Carlson for Kids orange-flavored DHA (100 mg), Barlean’s Fresh Catch Kid’s DHA (320 mg), or Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA (125 mg).
[Ed. Note: Making your family's life healthier doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. You can find recipes for plenty of wholesome, healthful meals - plus get the latest breakthroughs in health and fitness - in ETR's natural health newsletter. Sign up for free right here.
Survive the holidays with nutrition expert Kelley Herring's brand-new e-books, Guilt-Free Desserts and Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres. You'll find 60+ recipes you can easily make at home.]
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