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Is Your Child Getting Enough DHA?

formula milk dha

As parents, our goal is to see our children grow into healthy, intelligent, and strong individuals who are able to achieve their dreams. Priority is given to providing them with good education, extracurricular activities, and nutritionally balanced food. But how well do we understand nutrition’s role in their development?

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is highly essential for our wellbeing but cannot be made by the body. This important nutrient can only be obtained by diet.

Why is DHA necessary?

Approximately 60% of the brain and the nerves in the body are made up of fat. DHA is the main component of brain tissue, so it is necessary for optimal brain and eye functions.

Children’s brains grow rapidly during the peak development years, so it is important to provide enough DHA to ensure the child has better mental and psychomotor development.

Children with low levels of DHA are more likely to suffer from poor neural development and learning disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and underperformance in reading.

It’s important that your child eat a healthy diet that’s full of good fats and fatty acids. Since DHA is primarily found in fish and seafood, it is important your child consumes fish at least two to three times a week to ensure a healthy development.

Will That Provide My Child with Enough DHA?

Sadly, no. Studies have shown that many children suffer from DHA deficiency due to Western diets or just being picky eaters. It is also possible that some parents may be concerned about mercury and heavy metal contamination if their children consume a lot of fish.

DHA supplements in growing up milk and vitamins for kids have been recommended by many experts as a preventative and curative measure. Children may benefit from increased intelligence and a better attention span, as well as a decreased risk of developing respiratory infections and allergies.

DHA also improves hand-eye coordination and enhances learning and memory. Additionally, it maintains healthy eye tissues and keeps the eyes in good shape for better vision.

The “Brain Food” supplement is an absolute must for children in their developmental years.

DHA Foods for Toddlers and Kids

There are many natural DHA foods for toddlers and children. Some of them include:

Salmon has the highest DHA content of any fish and contains a healthy proportion of omega-3 fats. The ammount of DHA in salmon varies from 0.9g – 1.24g

Eggs naturally contain some DHA, however you can also purchase enriched eggs made from chickens supplied with DHA supplements. One omega-3 egg contains around 340 milligrams of ALA and 75 to 100 milligrams of DHA

DHA enriched yogurts are a staple on the supermarket shelves and you could offer it to kids as a breakfast or light snack. The amount of DHA varies from 600 mg – 1.2mg DHA per serving

Peanut butter can be used to spread on toast in place of sugary jam. Peanut butter has an average of 32mg of DHA and EPA combined per serving

A handful of walnuts makes a delicious and healthy snack for your toddler. Walnuts has higher omega-3 fat than any other nut, providing 2.5 grams per 28-gram per serving (6- 7 nuts). Omega-3 fat from plants, including walnuts, is called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Growing up milk Formula, the manufacturer has realized how important DHA is and has fortified the product with it. After checking the label thoroughly, you can buy the products specifically designed for children aged 1 year and above. The amount of DHA in milk formula varies between different brands.

DHA Recommended Intake

The amount of DHA that a child needs varies depending on their age and weight.

Novamil KID DHA: contains 30 essential nutrients with Omega 3 and Omega 6.