The Importance of Omega 3 Fatty acids found in Cod Liver Oil for Brain function and Development.

Fish oils are believed to boost children’s brain power because they are high in the essential Omega 3 fatty acids called EPA and DHA, all of which help brain function and memory. It is clear from recent research that fish oil supplements can help children’s performance. Many experts now recommend that all parents try to include more essential fatty acids in their children’s diet.

The most important family of fatty acids for brain power is Omega 3, which makes the brain think faster. Learning, reading and writing can all be improved through an increase of Omega 3. It also affects the speed and efficiency at which the eye works. Essential fats are vital for mental functioning because they speed up the rate at which messages are sent around the brain. Each of the brain’s billions of cells is surrounded by a membrane called a myelin sheath, which consists mainly of fats, including essential fatty acids. In order for electrical signals to carry messages to and from nerve cells, they need to pass through the membrane speedily and efficiently. When something affects the functioning of the membrane, such as low levels of fatty acids, it can slow down the speed at which signals can pass through the brain. This in turn can cause problems such as reduced efficiency at processing information, so tasks take longer and following instructions is harder.

Unfortunately, the body cannot make Omega 3 fatty acids, so they must be gained through diet. But modern food preferences and cooking processes have reduced the amount we consume. The average person today eats only a sixth of the Omega 3 fats found in the diet of people living in 1850. This is partly due to food choices — the best source of Omega 3 is oily fish which is not something that commonly appeals to children today —but mainly to modern food processing, which purposefully takes the essential fatty acids out of foods in order to give them a longer shelf life. Omega 3 can also be found in seeds such as pumpkin and flax, and in walnuts, but in much smaller quantities than in oily fish. Deficiency of Omega 6 is less common as it is found in more foods — in most seeds and nuts, but also salad oils and olive oil.od Liver Oil