Why your child needs DHA
Bright and gifted children have outstanding abilities and are capable of high performance. Compared to kids their age, most bright children display a higher rate of learning and memory capacity.
As kids gear up for their school years, there are many ways that parents can support them in becoming the brightest versions of themselves. Guidance, care and nutrition all play a vital role in ensuring their healthy development.
Nutrients in the diet, such as Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), are building blocks for the brain and are important for brain function. DHA aids the release and uptake process of neurotransmitters that ensure efficient communications of brain cells.
DHA: One of the Keys to Intelligence
Efficient brain cell communication helps support learning in the following key areas:
For kids: Find out how DHA helps support your child’s learning abilities
Whatever happens during their early years will have a lasting impact on your child’s life, specifically on how his/her brain functions. In essence, your child’s health, personality, memory and learning capability throughout life are supported by the process of how his/her brain cells communicate. Overwhelming evidence of the benefits of DHA (from a recent review of some studies) demonstrated that adequate levels of DHA in young children’s diets support brain function, especially for cognitive and visual function.2 Supporting Cognitive and Visual Development Recent evidence on the benefits of DHA have demonstrated that adequate levels of DHA in young children’s diets support brain function, especially for cognitive and visual function.2
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks and gains understanding of the world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. Among the areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development and memory.
Visual development
A study on growing children who were previously identified as having low dietary intakes of DHA found that daily supplementation of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (LCPUFAs), including DHA, for a period of 7 months improved visual perception.3
However, a research conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has revealed that children may not be getting enough of these nutrients for eye and brain development.
Today, the daily diet of most kids may be lacking in DHA. Foods that are rich sources of DHA, such as sardines and salmon, are generally not commonly consumed by many children.
Scott’s DHA Gummies
Scott’s DHA Gummies are a great way to supplement a child’s daily DHA intake. The best way for children to receive their DHA is by ingesting it, which leaves parents in the position of trying to convince their little ones to eat things that even unfussy kids will turn away.
Scott’s DHA Gummies come in exciting flavours and shapes. Kids can happily eat these strawberry and orange flavoured ocean-themed gummies. Just three gummies a day constitutes 40 mg of DHA.
Sold in two different package sizes, you can purchase the 60-packs for your home and the smaller 15-gummy packs which are convenient for parents to carry while they’re on the go.
MAHP 1700264
References:
- Gazzaniga, M.S. (2004). The cognitive neurosciences (3/e). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
- McCann, JC, Ames BN. Is docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for development of normal brain function? An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioural tests in humans and animals. Am J Clint. 2005 Aug; 82(2): 281-95.
- National Academy of Sciences.Institute of Medicine.Food and Nutrition Board.Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients) (2005). Chapter 8 –Dietary Fats: Total Fat and Fatty Acids. Available at: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/DRI/DRI_Energy/422-541.pdf. Accessed February 14, 2008.
- FAO. Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food Nutria Pap 2010; 91:1-166.
