Benefits of omega 3 and omega 6 for child development

Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are two types of fatty acids that are very important for supporting child development. Unfortunately, some parents may not know exactly what omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are, so the intake for their children is still relatively low. In fact, the benefits of omega 3 and 6 for children's health are numerous, you know.

What are the benefits of omega 3 for child development?

Before knowing the benefits of omega 3 for child development, you need to know first what omega 3. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fatty acid that cannot be produced by the body so they must be met through food intake.

The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are various types of fatty fish, such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon. For this reason, WHO recommends that you eat fish at least two servings per week to meet the needs of omega-3 fatty acids, as quoted from Healthline.

However, nowadays there is also milk that is enriched with omega-3s so that it is more practical to drink everyday.

Then, why do children also have to eat foods rich in omega-3s? This is because there are so many benefits of omega 3 for the physical and mental health of children that are not to be missed.

The various benefits of omega 3 for children are:

1. Improve children's intelligence

One of the benefits of omega 3 that cannot be missed is to increase the intelligence of children. A study from Oxford University revealed that children who get enough omega-3s tend to be more able to focus and understand lessons more easily.

The content of omega-3 fatty acids in fish can help strengthen brain function in children. As a result, it becomes easier for children to concentrate and indirectly increases their intelligence.

2. Improve reading skills

When learning at school, children need balanced coordination between hands and eyes when recording lessons and doing assignments. In fact, this ability can be helped by intake of omega-3 fatty acids, you know.

Children who are regularly given foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids tend to have an easier time balancing their hand and eye movements. This is evidenced by Professor Paul Montgomery who is a researcher from Oxford University.

He revealed that children who have high levels of omega-3 in their blood tend to be able to read well. Not only that, they also had fewer behavior problems at school.

3. Prevent from various diseases

If you want your little one to stay healthy throughout the day, try feeding him foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The reason is, omega-3s can help boost the immune system so that your little one is free from disease.

Omega-3 fatty acid intake for children can help increase levels of good cholesterol, aka HDL. Triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and plaque formation in blood vessels will decrease. Thus, your little one will avoid the risk of hypertension and heart disease in the future.

In fact, the benefits of omega 3 do not stop there. Omega-3 fatty acids can help control body weight as well as reduce waist circumference. Thus, your little one will avoid the risk of obesity from childhood to adulthood.

4. Improve mental health

Fish oil has been widely used as a depression medication for adults. However, experts reveal that this also applies to children.

Yes, besides improving physical health, the benefits of omega 3 are also very closely related to children's mental health. There have been many studies that prove that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of various mental illnesses, for example depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder in children aged 6 to 12 years.

What are the benefits of omega 6 for child development?

Just like omega-3, omega-6 also includes fatty acids that cannot be produced by the body. For this reason, children need additional omega-6 intake from outside through nutritious foods, including fortified milk with omega-6..

Actually, the benefits of omega-6 are almost the same as the benefits of omega 3. One of them is being able to reduce various symptoms of chronic diseases, for example hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Based on a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics in 2014, omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can help lower cholesterol levels while controlling blood sugar. In the end, the child will avoid the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

In addition to improving children's physical health, the benefits of omega-6 fatty acids can also support academic achievement, you know. According to a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, intake of omega-6 fatty acids can make children read hard.

Children who have problems with concentration are greatly helped by omega-6 intake. As a result, it becomes easier for them to focus when reading, even their reading ability continues to increase from day to day. If this is continued, this can certainly improve children's achievement in academics.

Overall, omega 3 and 6 are not only important for cognitive function and intelligence in children, but also beneficial for eye, brain and mental health. Therefore, make sure the daily needs of omega 3 and 6 for your little one are met. Make sure there are fish or eggs in your baby's daily diet, and don't forget to have at least a glass of milk that has been fortified with omega-3 and 6.

So, make sure you have given your little one milk that has the highest omega 3 and 6 content. Besides being good for children's health, milk that is high in omega 3 and 6 can improve brain function and intelligence in children during their infancy.