Your aunt may have once mentioned that her doctor told her to add more salmon into her diet in order to help control her cholesterol levels. You were probably wondering “What exactly does Salmon have to do with it?” and maybe “Should I be doing that too?”
Surprisingly, we estimate that over 68% of American adults and 95% of children are deficient in omega-3. Historically our diets were richer in grass-fed proteins and fish, and ALSO lower in the less healthy fats we take in from salty snacks like potato chips, so our balance of omegas and overall inflammation was lower. Today, we’re not eating enough fish to make up for these imbalances.
We can’t diagnose your ailments, but we can recommend that every age group monitors their omega-3 intake. The National Institute of Health has created a chart to assist the public on the recommended omega-3 daily intake dependent on age. It is important to note that every age group needs to consume a certain amount of omega-3 fatty acids in order to support many aspects of their overall health. In fact this is why omega-3s are sometimes described as ‘essential fatty acids.’ This means they’re essential to our health and we can’t self-manufacture the nutrient without taking it in via our diet, unlike other nutrients such as Vitamin D.
In this blog, we’ll go over why omega-3 can be helpful for each stage of life.
Infants
Essential fatty acids are vital for brain development in babies. In fact, when expecting mothers keep up their omega-3 intake, they can support the development of their child’s brain, eyesight, and overall birth weight. Many baby formulas also contain DHA.
Young Children
For young children, making omega-3 a priority in nutrition can have many benefits. Particularly, children who have optimal omega-3 levels may experience less ADHD symptoms, and perform better in school. There is also research that suggests consuming fish at a young age could help prevent allergies later on in a child’s life.
Adolescence
According to the World Health Organization, “Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents”. Given this fact, it is vital that we do everything we can to support the minds and bodies of our teens. Modern research has shown that omega-3 can be a vital nutrient to consider when battling depression and other mood disorders.
Parents and teens, although nutrition is important, always keep in mind that anyone suffering from a mental health condition should be evaluated and monitored by a medical professional.
Adults
When entering adulthood, preventative health practices are the key to staying resilient. Omega-3 is a great tool to incorporate into your regimen if you are concerned about ailments that plague many adults such as high cholesterol, heart disease, and a weak immune system. Omega-3 is not a magic potion, but it is an investment into your future wellbeing.
Seniors
Cognitive decline and the illnesses that accelerate it are a common concern for almost half of people ages 50 to 64. Although genetics and environmental factors are sometimes out of our control, nutrition is not! Omega-3 is a known nutrient that supports cognitive function. It is no surprise that many healthcare professionals recommend foods and supplements that boost omega-3 levels for seniors that must focus on their brain health.
We all could use some omegas.
To sum it up, no age group is excluded from the benefits that omega-3 can provide. Coromega proudly provides omega-3 products suited for children as well as seniors. We firmly believe that it is never too late to start doing something for your health that will pay off in the future!
Easy Ways to Add More Omegas to your Diet
If you’re thinking of adding more omegas to your diet, what’s the easiest way? Here’s our short list.
- Eating more fresh fish, especially those higher in omega-3: salmon, tuna, mackerel.
- Trying canned fish, like salmon, sardines and tuna - they’re great sources of omega that don’t need a lot of preparation.
- Adding vegetarian sources like flax seeds to your baking or cereals but be aware the body only converts 8-10% to the types of omegas you really need.
- Of course, taking a great omega-3 supplement can be a great way to get a daily dose without any preparation needed, like our Coromega Max, which has 2400 mg of Omega-3, the equivalent of about a half pound of salmon.
We wish you well in your health journey and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us in our ‘contact us’ section if we can be of any assistance to you.
Note: Please always check with a healthcare professional before beginning a new supplement or diet.