These days many of us are working hard to cut fat from our diets. Recent research is showing that in actuality, not all fats are bad. We need essential fatty acids (EFA) and many of us are deficient in them. Essential fatty acids help us develop immunities and improve brain function. If we don't take in enough of them we (especially children) can end up with poor concentration, hyperactivity, dyslexia, and trouble with coordination. If your child is experiencing any of these problems, you may need only to supplement his essential fatty acid intake to improve his ability to function.
EFA deficiencies, which are very common, can also cause problems such as eczema, dry skin, dandruff and excessive thirst.
The two main types of EFAs are: the Omega 6 series, found in evening primrose oil and starflower oil, and the Omega 3 series, found in oily fish like sardines, herring, and trout. Some nuts also contain them. The Omega 6 series affect our immune systems. Women who use evening primrose oil find that it helps 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.
The other, EPA, is the one that is crucial for brain functioning. To make full use of it we also need to get enough of vitamins B6, C, and zinc. Unfortunately, not only is our diet desperately short of these essential nutrients, some of the processed foods we eat, such as margarine, actually interfere with their use!
You may consider increasing amount of omega 3 oils in the diet of children, especially if they show symptoms of EFA deficiency or are struggling at school. The best way to do this add more fish to their diet. Unfortunately, it seems that fish stocks are suffering at the hands of pollution, so this may be rather risky. Perhaps a better option is to intorduce a high quality supplement. These supplements are not excessively expensive, and are available in all good chemists and health food shops.
What should 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
Also use a general vitamin and mineral supplement, or look for brands that include vitamins B6 (30 mg/day) and zinc (15mg a day) with the oil (e.g. Cardioace).
Buy capsules rather than bottles of oil as they stay fresh longer. Be sure to look for vitamin E as a preservative.
Use a well-known, quality brand, made from wild ocean fish, rather than those from fish farms.
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.
Do your children love and enjoy playing outside? Especially during the sunny days, running bare foot in the lawn gives you unlimited pleasure. We all know about this since we also did the same during the days we were kids. You can have the television and video games but nothing can match the pleasure that one derives from outdoor games. Summer days meant outdoor game playing. Currently I enjoy playing outdoors with my seven year old daughter. Whenever she returns from school, her first question is "Can I go and play outside?" I simply love when she says so. These children a majority of children prefer to stay inside. This can cause weight problems in the future. We should make it a practice for our children to play outside, like our younger days. The only thing that has changed today is that my daughter has a outdoor playset to make her outdoor playing even more enjoyable.
Is there an outdoor playset in your backyard? Nothing bad not to have it. But some of the modern outdoor playsets can be really expensive. When I moved into my current residence I was bewildered by the new age outdoor playset prices. I wished to buy an outdoor playset for my youngest daughter, but soon discovered that I had to comply with some rules. Ever heard of woodent outdoor playsets? Since metal outdoor playsets were not allowed in our locality, I had to buy a wooden outdoor playset. These playsets, though expensive but are better. But it is surprising that our locality does not allow any other kinds of playsets? It sounds bizarre, but do check out the Homeowner's association before making any purchase. But these outdorr playsets can give your children immense pleaure and fun. Its really satisfying to see my daughter climb, side, swing and play on hers daily. And when she is not playing, its great to see her sitting on it and chatting with her friends.
An outdoor playset is a great means to encourage your children to play out of the house. You do want them to be healthy and active. If you are looking to buy an outdoor playset, check out the internet. It does have a host of outdoor playset that will best fit your budget and requirements.
Both Dr. Noel Swanson... & Luke Cameron are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr. Noel Swanson... has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Dr. Noel Swanson has years of experience in helping parents with child behavior problems. To tap into his expert visit his website and check out his GOOD CHILD Guide manual, packed full of practical. Dr. Noel Swanson...'s top article . to your Favourites.
Luke Cameron has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acupuncture Chiropractor, Kitchen Home Improvement and Health. Luke Cameron is owner of The Outdoors Mag - an online magazine offering news, tips and articles on Recreation related topics. His website can be found at: