There seems to be almost no field in medicine where the importance of omega-3 essential fatty acids is not reflected: heart health, depression, ADHD, and of course - the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus during pregnancy, and of the newborn in his early years.
As is known, the central nervous system of the embryo begins to develop on the tenth day after fertilization. The process accelerates and culminates in the second half of pregnancy and in the first two years of life, both in terms of the size and weight of the brain, and in terms of cognitive, optical, and motor abilities.
How Omega 3 Helps Prevent Health Problems
As mentioned, many studies show that essential fatty acids Omega 3 play an important role in the development of infants in their early years and later life. Among other things, studies have shown that the addition of omega-3s to the diet of pregnant, breastfeeding women, infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents may help in the following cases:
- Improve learning disabilities and behavioral problems
- Improve ADHD Symptoms
- Encourage mental development
- Promote the development of the immune system
- Reduce the prevalence of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, depression and type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes)
- Assist in maintaining weight and healthy metabolism
- Reduce allergies and atopic dermatitis
How and how much Omega 3 is recommended to consume?
A host of these medical research and insights have led to the recognition of physicians, nutritionists, and health professionals with the many benefits of EPA and DHA-rich diets for school-aged infants and children. However, in terms of dietary characteristics in the Western world, we, parents as children, do not consume omega-3 fatty acids on a sufficient level. Especially pregnant women. This is why medical organizations recommend enriching the diet of pregnant women with DHA supplementation for the duration of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Due to the great importance of the omega-3 acids, most of the baby food compounds (NMR) are enriched. For infants who are not breastfeeding, the recommendation is to use transdermal containing DHA.
The recommendation for omega-3 intake for pregnant women is at least 200 mg of DHA per day, with nutritional supplements that are adapted to pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is also recommended to test for omega-3 nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
Also, there are currently dietary supplements based on fish oil at a dosage suitable for children.
