When I started studying nutrition I read a book from Patrick Holford called “ The Optimum Nutrition Bible” (which I highly recommend) and he suggested that the reason humans evolved is because the consumption of fish. If you look into history, the first places in the world where it is suggested our ancestors evolved was near water. I suppose we will never know the exact point and reason, but I strongly believe the oils from fish helped the human brain to evolve.
The fact is that oils have plenty of benefits for our health. Especially for kids. I have joined forces with an amazing brand called ‘Eskimo-3’ to promote their Omega-3 supplements, which have an excellent quality and are a supplement that in my opinion are a must for kids, teenagers and adults.
Unless your child/teen is eating 2-3 portions of oily fish (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, salmon) a week, an omega-3 food supplement is a must.
Essential to Good Health
The really important fatty acids are the “Essential fatty acids”, termed “essential” as the body cannot make them and therefore they must be obtained through the diet. The best source of omega-3 is oily fish (sardines, salmon, anchovies, fresh tuna and mackerel). Without them cells can’t renew or maintain themselves properly.
Omega 3s support brain, eye, and heart health throughout life.
Surprisingly, a massive 89% of Irish people are not consuming sufficient oily fish in their diet, so often there is a need to take a good quality omega-3 fish oil such as Eskimo-3.
Vital for Mum
We all have those moments, whether it’s forgetting the name of the movie we saw last month (‘You know, the one with your man from the place, ooh, what was he called again?’), or where we put the car keys – aaaargh! Mostly, it’s because we have busy lives and so many things to juggle. There’s also the fact that the brain shrinks over time so extra nourishment is essential to good brain function.
The brain contains more than 100 billion cells working together to process information, fromm memories and recall. Each cell has an outer membrane which is actually made up of fat (lipids). Believe it or not, the typical human brain is actually about 60% fat, so we obviously need to include fats in our diets if we want to keep ‘mission control’ up and running.
It’s no surprise that omega-3 is so beneficial to brain health. The importance of these fatty acids becomes most obvious when they’re lacking. People who don’t get enough omega-3s in their diet can become demotivated, disinterested, forgetful and may experience low moods.
In the past few years, scientists have started to look at omega-3’s potential to help in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Interestingly, liu et al (2013) showed the people with anxiety had lower levels of omega-3 EPA and DHA compared with those without anxiety symptoms.
The power of Omega 3s can also help to protect our cardiovascular systems, normalizing and regulating triglyceride levels in the blood, reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels simply cannot be overstated.
Being a mum means that life isn’t always going to be busy, so make sure you are feeding your body the healthy fats you need.
It’s important to note that omega-3 in seeds doesn’t provide the omega-3 DHA required for brain function – oily fish is the only direct source.
Ideal Eskimo-3 Product for busy mums –
Eskimo-3 or Eskimo-3 Brain 369. Eskimo-3 is perfect if you eat plenty of nuts, seeds and foods rich in healthy fats. Eskimo-3 Brain 369 contains omega-3 from fish and omega-6 and 9 from seeds and healthy oils. Eskimo-3 Brain 369 is rich in GLA, therefore recommended for women who need to balance their hormones.
Vital during pregnancy for mother & Baby
Omega-3 DHA is essential during pregnancy to ensure optimal foetal brain, eye, and immune and nervous system development.
In a number of studies, scientists have found that the children of women who consumed Omega 3s scored well in developmental and behavioral testing, while women who had no access to Omega-3 DHA – either through eating oily fish or in supplemental form were more likely to report “suboptimal outcomes.”
If a woman’s stores are low, this can increase the risk of postnatal depression.
Brain Food for Kids
Studies show that taking an omega-3 supplement actually helps kids concentrate better in school, making it one of the smartest supplements your family can take.
Children need Omega 3 for every stage of their development. It boosts their brains, strengthens their immune systems and lifts their mood. Without these important fats, it can become difficult for children to concentrate, learn new information, and balance their moods properly.
A 2012 study found Omega 3 DHA had a profound improvement on reading age, concentration and learning ability in children, lower levels of DHA were attributed to poorer reading levels and impaired performance.
Eskimo-3 Kids contains Omega-3,6 and 9 rich in DHA to support children’s brain and eye development and vitamin D3, needed to build strong bones and healthy immune systems which helps the body to fight off infections; making it a very important supplement during back to school time.
How much do I need?
Studies show that you need 250mg DHA daily to support brain health. Eating oily fish twice a week – such as salmon or sardines, provides a healthy dose of omega-3 EPA/DHA. Not a fish fan, you can choose a high quality fish oil supplement such as Eskimo-3 Brain 3.6.9. Check your preferred supplement to see that you are getting adequate DHA, as often supplements can fall short.
Taking a daily fish oil supplement, naturally rich in omega-3, can support your heart, brain, joints and skin and is a simple way to safeguard your health.
Eskimo-3 is committed to delivering safe, sustainably sourced, effective omega-3.
Be Smart, Choose Eskimo-3: Ireland’s Favourite Omega-3!
Exclusive to Health Stores, Pharmacies and online.
*In collaboration with Eskimo-3
Ursula Walsh 