As many as 37% of school-aged children never or rarely eat fish. With fish oil playing such a significant role in the structure and function of the brain and the immune system,   it’s not surprising that learning difficulties and allergies are some of the major challenges that parents face these days. Add to this the age-old concerns such as healthy nutrition and overall wellbeing that parents want for their family. Fish, with its essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has shown benefits for healthy living. DHA is found in the central nervous system, including the brain. EPA is a precursor to prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are involved in inflammatory processes in the body. It can be difficult, however, to obtain high-dose EPA/DHA without feeling like you’re eating oily fish all day and all night. A healthy and convenient option is to supplement with highly concentrated liquid fish oil from a reputable source. It offers welcome relief for those who find softgels and capsules hard to swallow. Other benefits include:

1. Concentrated high-dose omega-3 fatty acids

Having a high concentration of EPA and DHA per serving makes it an excellent choice for those who find it difficult to consume the recommended amount of fish per week, such as children or the elderly.

2. Flexible and convenient dosing

Liquid fish oil offers convenience as doses can be adjusted to suit different ages and needs within your household. It can also be easily incorporated into the daily diet by adding it to juices, soups or smoothies, making it more palatable for the whole family.

3. Flavour

Good liquid fish oil does not taste like fish as it’s naturally flavoured for improved taste. As an added bonus, you may also be able to avoid that common side effect of the “fishy” burp. Fish oil supplements however, irrespective of their form, can have widely varying levels of EPA/DHA and worse still, some can have damaging effects if sourced and manufactured incorrectly. Poorly manufactured fish oils may be contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and dioxins accumulated from the marine environment where some fish are sourced. In general, the smaller the fish, the lower the levels of accumulated toxins. The exposure risk to toxins is substantially reduced though when best-practice purification processes are used. So, if you’re searching for a convenient way to get a high dose of omega-3 fatty acids, then a concentrated, pure liquid fish oil is made just for you.

What To Look For In A Liquid Fish Oil:

• Taste, smell and texture. These are the main objections you’ll get from kids who refuse to eat fish.
• High dose - it’s so much easier to reach your minimum requirements of fish oil with a therapeutic dose.
• No added sugar, artificial flavour or artificial sweetener.
• Low levels of mercury, peroxide and p-anisidine.
• Meets the strict international standards set by the Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED).

How Much Fish?

For healthy children, Australian and New Zealand authorities recommend the following intake of omega-3 fatty acids: Consulting an experienced Naturopath can be extremely beneficial as they will be able to assist you in developing a comprehensive plan with specific supplements to improve your health and your children's health too. ‘Ask a Naturopath’ at Mr Vitamins about Liquid Fish Oil

Mr Vitamins Recommends:

UltraClean OmegaFactors for Juniors by Bioceuticals

  Speak to your healthcare practitioner for more information about supplementation. Make sure to always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare practitioner.

References

1 Booth M, Okely AD, Denney-Wilson E, et al. NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survery (SPANS) 2004; full report. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2006. 2 Uauy R, Dangour A. Nutrition in brain development and aging; role of essential fatty acids. Nutr Rev 2006;64(5 Pt 2):S24-3 3 Hodge L, Salome CM, Peat JK, et al. Consumption of oily fish and childhood asthma risk. Med J Aust 1996;164(3):137-40. 4 Department of Health and Ageing, National Health and Medical Research Council, Ministry of Health. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Commonwealth of Australia, 2006.