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The extraordinary benefits of Omega-3 for kids

A recent research found that parents’ efforts are more important for a child’s educational attainment than the school’s efforts, which in turn is more important than the child’s own efforts. Parents make every effort to provide their children an edge in school and according to Oxford researchers that edge may be found in their daily diet. This has been proven that long-term dietary choices influences children’s mental health and cognitive function, whether positively or negatively. But intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids especially Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) influences child’s growth in a positive way. They supports normal growth and metabolism in children. EPA and DHA protect against heart diseases, have anti-inflammatory properties, aid in proper retinal and brain development, and improve focus and behaviour in children. They are among-st the most important good fats that our body requires, but unfortunately cannot produce on its own, and therefore, must be a part of our diet that should be taken externally. A study in journal Prostaglandins Leukotrienes & Essential fatty acids found that “If your child is making the wrong decisions, it could be due to his lower omega-3 fatty acid levels”. Low levels of Omega-3, particularly EPA and DHA, are associated with worse performance on reading tests and working memory, and more symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
Numerous studies have shown multiple benefits of daily consumption of Omega-3s on children, a few of them are: Supports child’s cognitive development, better hand-eye coordination, social skills, attention span, and intelligent test scores, better vision or eye functions, better concentration, supports child’s ability to learn and behave better, moderate improvement in ADHD symptoms including problems in processing emotions and socializing and also it supports memory functioning. Lower Omega-3 levels can make the child susceptible to certain inflammatory conditions or affect their cognitive functioning. Hence parents must ensure to include Omega-3s in their child’s daily diet.

Taking this into consideration, Lipomic Healthcare has launched India’s first Home2Lab test, the OMEGA HealthTest to measure Omega-3 levels in blood. The simple & safe blood collection method does not require a full blood draw or a visit to the doctor. One drop of blood is all require to access the nutritional status of your child. The OMEGA HealthTest is a convenient finger prick Home2Lab test to get a complete fatty acid profile of your child, with a full report that outlines the key inflammatory and dietary biomarkers and recommends a personalized dose to bring the biomarker into healthy target ranges. Therefore, it is important to know Omega-3 levels before embarking on any dietary changes or supplement regime, to know the right dose for your child.

Based on the test results, Lipomic Healthcare or your doctor recommends the consumption of Omega-3 supplements. Omega Boost Active Softgels by Lipomic is a high strength Omega-3 supplements rich in EPA and DHA that will fulfil your child’s daily Omega-3 requirement. These softgels are burp free and easy to swallow which is a great choice as the supplement for kids.

Lipomic Healthcare is keen to expand the reach of this relatively new and unique Home2Lab test along with Omega Boost active softgels across India. Therefore, you must ensure to provide your child Omega-3 rich foods and supplements for a healthy life ahead.

Your child will thank you for it.

For more information, contact 011-45500127 or

email us at info@lipomic.com

The Need of Essential Fatty Acids

What are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Human body needs fats to function and survive.  Our body can produce most of the fats it needs. However there are two types of fats that human body cannot produce, namely linoleic acid (Omega-6 ) and alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3). These two fatty acids are very critical to proper functioning of the body. These beneficial fats are the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s). They are essential because the body cannot produce them and they must come from our diet. EFA’s are polyunsaturated fats, and are also known as “good” fats. Just like other essential vitamins and minerals. EFA’s are necessary for the maintenance of good health and growth.

Why Human Body Needs EFA’s

Our body needs both the groups of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) to survive and function optimally.Essential fatty acids control a large number of body mechanisms like improving the flexibility of cell membranes and increasing the immunity levels.These fats also help keep toxins out and bring nutrients into your cells. Additionally, a diet rich in EFA’s can be helpful in many diseases. The increased intake of essential fatty acids in the correct manner can not only improve health and keep diseases away but also improve body composition, skin, mental and physical performance of an individual.

The Balance between Omega -6 and Omega-3

In the modern times for various reasons, like a universal fear towards fat, there is a huge deficiency of EFA’s among the general population. Also researchers have found a growing disproportionate intake of Omega-6 fatty acids over Omega-3 fatty acids. Here it’s essential to understand that Omega-3 and Omega-6 don’t have the same effects on human body. Omega-3s have an anti-inflammatory effect whereas Omega-6s are pro-inflammatory.

Inflammation protects the body from various infections and injuries but too much of inflammation of tissues can lead to various diseases like cardiovascular ailments, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and in some cases cancer.  To put it simply, a diet that is high only on Omega-6 and low on Omega-3 is not healthy. The body needs a balanced amount of each to function optimally and stay healthy. Due to this opposing effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the optimal omega-6 and omega-3 ratio as per various researchers is about 1:1.

Healthy sources of Omega-6 and Omega-3

A List of Sources of Essential Fatty Acids
Omega -3  Omega -6
Cod Liver Oil  Borage Oil (GLA)
Flaxseed and Flaxseed oil Soya bean and Seed oils
Walnuts and Almonds All types of vegetable oils like safflower, sunflower, and cottonseed oils
Sea fishes such as Salmon, Mackerel and Herring Macadamia nut oil
 Oyster Egg yolks and animal meats

The bottom line is that you do not always need to sit down and calculate the ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 intake as your ratio will be adjusted naturally if you have a balanced healthy diet. Just pay attention to the fact that you eat loads of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, sea food and limit the intake of processed food and processed oils. A balanced diet with right amount of EFA’s is not just beneficial for adults but is also very important for the complete and healthy development of your child.

A wholesome diet along with supplements rich in EFA’s is the key towards a happy and healthy life!

 

The Healthy Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio

 

Omega -6 and Omega-3 are also known as the essential fatty acids. These have to be consumed from the diet as the body cannot produce them and are therefore termed “essential”. Both are polyunsaturated fatty acids that vary from each other in their chemical structure and have opposite effect in the body. Omega-6s are pro-inflammatory, while Omega-3s have an anti-inflammatory effect. Due to this opposing effect of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, our diet should contain a balanced omega-6 and omega-3 ratio.

Too much Omega-6 and too little Omega-3 can be fatal and is one of the main reason behind various modern day diseases. Today in most industrialized nations across the world people are consuming way too much Omega-6 as compared to Omega-3. This imbalance is mainly due to the contemporary day food items being too high in Omega-6 and too low in Omega-3.

The damaging effects of too much Omega-6

Omega -6 is essential for human body and is pro-inflammatory in nature. Inflammation is necessary for a healthy living as it protects the tissue from infections, injury and damage. But too much of inflammation can be very dangerous. Inflammation is the chief cause of various diseases like coronary heart disease, asthma, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and many types of cancer. Most of the modern day diet is packed with Omega-6. Any seed oil or processed oil like soybean, sunflower, peanut, corn and canola oils have high amounts of Omega-6 in them. This overabundance of omega-6 is misbalancing the omega-6 to omega -3 ratios and harming our body.The only way to regain the balance is by increasing omega-3 intake.

The Benefits of Omega-3 Intake

Omega-3 fatty acids have numerous health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Here are some of the ailments where intake of Omega-3 can be very beneficial:

  • High cholesterol and coronary heart disease
  • Inflammation
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Diabetics
  • Arthritis
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel disorder
  • Macular degeneration
  • Skin issues (eczema and psoriasis)

Omega -3 is also beneficial for maintain overall health and vigor, supports weight loss and is great for hair and skin.

The best way to increase the intake of Omega-3 is to introduce a few Omega-3 rich foods in your daily diet.  Some of the foods rich in Omega-3 are sea foods like mackerel, salmon, sardines, herring and oyster. Plant based Omega-3 rich foods are walnut, flaxseed, chia seed and hemp seeds.

How to Balance Omega -3 and Omega- 6 ratio?

According to various researches on fatty acids, most of the early human diet consisted of a balanced Omega-3 and Omega -6 intakes. The ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats was probably about 1-to-1. But a typical city dweller now eats more Omega-6s than Omega-3s and the ratio stands at 16:1. The intake of Omega-6 is much higher and this needs to be rectified.

The best way to regain a healthy balance is by increasing the intake of Omega-3. One can eat an Omega-3 rich diet and also consume Omega-3 supplements. The other was to shift the balance is by reducing the intake of Omega-6 rich oils and shifting to monounsaturated oils like olive, canola and sesame.

The Benefits of Omega -3 fats

 

Omega- 3 fish oil fatty acid is the nature’s gift to the humankind to keep the human body healthy and disease free. Composed of three fats namely EPA, DHA and ALA Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid Omega -3 is not sufficiently produced by human body and needs to be obtained through dietary supplements. ALA is present in many vegan foods like flaxseeds, berry oils and hemp oil but EPA and DHA is present chiefly in marine fish oil.

In the modern world most the ailments can be linked to unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Intake of a balanced diet with the correct Omega -3 and Omega -6 fatty acid is vital for maintaining a heathy and beautiful body and mind.

  • Omega -3 Benefits on Body: Intake of Omega-3 reduces all types of inflammation in the human body. Allergies are a type of inflammation and can include itching, hives, and rashes, asthma, food sensitivities, eczema, and sinus infections. Severe inflammation of tissues are the main cause of heart diseases, arthritis, prostatitis, immune system dysfunction, depression, Alzheimer’s and many other health conditions.The EPA & DHA fish oil fatty acids regulate the inflammatory response by reducing the amount of compounds causing pain and inflammation.
  • Omega-3 Benefits for Hair: Intake of healthy food with the correct Omega-3 content helps to promote hair growth and keeps hair strong and healthy. Adding these fatty acids to your diet can prevent itchy, dry and flaky scalp and also stop hair loss.
  • Omega-3 benefits for Skin: Omega-3 reduces inflammation and thus reduces the risk of acne, eczema, psoriasis or any other skin inflammations and allergies. Omega- 3 moisturizes the skin from within and keeps you looking young, supple and wrinkle free. It also acts as natural sun screen and keeps the skin flawless and radiant.
  • Omega-3 benefits for Brain: Research suggests that Omega-3 intake protects people of every age group and gender against depression and anxiety. Omega-3 is also believed to work against Alzheimer’s and dementia. This essential fatty acid found in fish oil can slows cognitive decline, prevents brain cells from shrinking and also aids in prevention of brain atrophy in older adults. As for children it helps them to improve overall alertness and IQ. Omega-3 can improve brain function by helping to improve blood flow.
  • Omega-3 benefits for Eyes: Various studies have suggested that intake of Omega-3 over a period of time can be quite beneficial for eyes. It improves and heals eye ailments like dry eye syndrome, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Omega- 3 fatty acids may also help guard adult eyes from age related macular degeneration and cataract.
  • Omega-3 benefits for Weight Loss: Many people will wonder how a fatty acid can help in weight loss. But the fact is that Omega-3 fatty acids helps you to burn the harmful fats more easily by improving your body’s metabolism and fat burning potential. It also helps to suppress the sudden hunger pangs that lead to calorie consumption.

With such long list of benefits Omega -3 does sum up as the most magical fatty acid that you must include in your daily diet lead to a healthy and vigorous life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy lifestyle, have wondered what does it really mean? For some healthy lifestyle means a disease free life. But in reality it’s about achieving balanced and optimal physical and mental well-being.Leading a healthy life is not a herculean task. With a little effort everyone can have a well-balanced and healthy life. All you need to do is to implement small changes in your day to day life.

Considering the fast paced tech savvy lives we lead everyone despite realization forgets to take care of their body. It’s a general feeling that as long as one is able to grow in the career graph allis going to be well and a day will soon come when we will adapt a healthy lifestyle.

For all those busy people who want or are trying to lead a healthy life, here are some most easy to follow healthy tips that can be practiced in our day to day life with no extra efforts irrespective of your age, gender or profession.

  1. Drink Lots of Water: Water not only keeps us hydrated and energetic, water is also the best way to keep your skin looking young and supple and keep various ailments away. Water eliminates toxins from the body, helps in digestion and also combats infections.
  1. Exercise: Adopting a regular exercise regime is vital in maintaining a fit body and mind. Even if you cannot go to a gym just walk or jog for 45 minutes a day and see the positive effects on your energy level and look.
  1. Eat Small and Regular Meals: Never skip a meal. It’s best to eat light and eat regularly. Stop eating the moment you feel full. For snacking choose healthy options like nuts, fruits, and wholegrains.
  1. Choose Healthy Food: While shopping choose foods that are low in added sugar, trans fat and saturated fat. Look at the labels before you fill your shopping cart. For protein choose poultry, beans, eggs, nuts. Everyday include fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables in your diet. Practice healthy eating.
  1. Include Omega 3 in your Daily Diet: Omega -3 is the most important fatty acid for human health that body cannot make them. You have to get them through foods or supplements. Omega- 3 is known to be very beneficial for both body and brain. It keeps various lifestyle ailments like heart disease, cancer and depression miles away. Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency are fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression.
  1. Sleep 7-8 Hours a Day: Turn off the mobile, tab and TV, do not give in to the urge to surf or watch just another show. Sleep for a good 7-8 hours. Most people require 7-8 hours of sleep to stay alert and to function optimally. Poor sleep is one of the main causes of stress, lack of immunity and heart disease.
  1. Think Happy Thoughts and Have Fun: Don’t stress, it does not help. Think happy thoughts, go out, meet friends, create memories and have fun. Laugh out loud, be childlike and see how young and healthy that makes you feel.