they're the fats of life!

Omega-3sand yourchildren

Omega-3 is the name given to a group of unsaturated fats that make up the structure and foundation of every cell

in the body. Omega-3 fats are needed for the production of hormones, regulation of inflammatory responses, the

development and effective working of the brain and much more. The body can’t make omega-3s so they must be

provided in the diet and this is why they’re called essential fats or essential fatty acids.

Two essential omega-3 fats called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are particularly

important for human health. EPA supports heart health and DHA is a key component of the eyes and the nervous

system. DHA is also thought to play an important role in healthy brain development and function. Both EPA and DHA

are needed for every age and at every stage of development and throughout life. Are your children getting enough

omega-3s?

How much is enough?The Australian National Heart Foundation suggests an intake of 500 milligrams of omega-3 fats daily for children and adults and an important way of reaching this health goal is by eating two to three meals of oil-rich fish like salmon and trout per week. Studies show that many of our children aren’t eating nearly enough fish, and aren’t getting enough of the essential fats they need, particularly the important long chain fatty acids DHA and EPA.

For example, research by Professor Barbara Meyer from the University of Wollongong found that three-year-olds consumed an average of only 47 milligrams (mg) of long chain omega-3s, and four- to eight-year-olds had just 55mg daily which is approximately a tenth of the Heart Foundation’s target of 500mg per day.

Professor Meyer estimates that just six per cent of Australian children are meeting the recommended dietary intake of omega-3 fats...

Omega-3 aids concentration and behaviourSixty per cent of the human brain is composed of fat and the long chain omega-3 fat DHA is highly concentrated in this vital organ – DHA makes up over 20 per cent of it. EPA also plays an important structural and functional role in the brain.

Omega-3 and body healthOmega-3 fatty acids including DHA and EPA are needed for the normal functioning and production of healthy body cells and they’re vital for every age and at every stage of development, growth and throughout the adult years.Some research suggests that early nutrition has lifelong effects on metabolism, growth, neuro (brain) development, and cardiovascular (heart) health. Several clinical studies have proven omega-3 fats benefit the health of the heart and blood vessels throughout life so good early nutrition is very important.

Omega-3 for healthy eyesHigh concentrations of DHA are found in the photoreceptor (light sensitive) cells of the retina in the eye, where it affects the cell membranes and visual function.

Omega-3 and pregnancyLong-chain omega-3s are important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding; they’re needed for the normal development of the growing baby’s nervous system.

Retina

The three ways to boost your child’s omega-3 intakeThe Australian Heart Foundation recommends getting enough omega-3s naturally from foods, fortified foods and from a fish oil supplement if required.You can do this by encouraging your child to eat more oily fish and fish in general, choose omega-3 fortified foods and choosing a high quality supplement.

Go for omega-3 rich foods The richest source of long-chain omega-3 is oily fish. To help to increase the omega-3s in your child’s diet:

• Encourage more oily fish such as salmon, trout, fresh tuna, herring and mackerel two or three times per week

• If your child prefers milder flavours or prefers white fish, try bream, snapper and gemfish, barramundi, tarakihi, gurnard and hoki

• Try seafood such as mussels, oysters, squid and crab

• Offer canned tuna (even though the canning process reduces the content of omega-3s, it can still provide a useful source for your child)

• Include omega-3 containing foods such as dark, leafy vegetables, nuts such as walnuts, soy and seeds such as flax seeds. These can be converted to long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in the body, but the conversion from short-chain fatty acids to long chain fatty acids is not efficient for many individuals.

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2 Opt for omega-3 fortified foods More and more omega-3 fortified foods are appearing on our shelves:

• Try omega-3 fortified eggs

• Look for milk and other dairy products with added omega-3s.

Consider a high quality fish oil supplementBoost your child’s omega-3 intake with a good quality omega-3 supplement. Australian Consumers Association CHOICE says, ‘look for the one [supplement] containing the highest amount of DHA and EPA ’.

Unlike other popular high street brands, USANA’s BiOmegaTM Jr. provides an efficacious amount of highly absorbable omega-3 fats (230mg DHA and 350mg EPA) per serving.

For more information:• National Heart Foundation http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Fish-QA-General.pdf • Food Standards Australia and New Zealand http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/mercury_in_fish_brochure_lowres.pdf

Heart Foundation. Q and A. Omega-: general. 2008. Accessed 3 March 2012. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Fish-QA-General.pdf Nutrition. 2011 Nov-Dec;27(11-12):1136-40. Epub 2011 Jun 12. Australian children are not consuming enough long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for optimal health. Accessed 3 March 2012. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21658909 CHOICE Omega-3 for children. Accessed 6 March 2012. Available from: http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/food-and-drink/nutrition/omega-3s/page/omega%203%20for%20children.aspx Australian Heart Foundation. Fish Q and A. Accessed 3 March 2012. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Fish-QA-General.pdf

USANA’s BiOmegaTM Jr. An easy and tasty way for children to get the valuable DHA and EPA they need for a healthy body and to support overall good health. • There’s no need to struggle with capsules because BiOmega Jr. comes as a tasty

sugar-free, orange flavoured gel.

• BiOmega Jr. doesn’t have a fishy taste nor any fishy after-taste.

• Available in convenient single-serve pouches that the kids will love to open.

• BiOmega Jr. can be taken straight from the packet or stir it into yogurt or other creamy foods like custard.

• For best results, store in the refrigerator and serve cold.

• Naturally sweetened with stevia.

• Delicious creamy orange flavour.

• 14-Pack of convenient single-serve packets (offer one every other day).

BiOmega Jr. Item#144

Recommended use: ages four to 12 years – take one (2.5g) packet every other day, with or without food.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATIONServings per package: 14 Serving size: 1 packet (2.5g)

What is oily fish?

A fish is classed as oily i.e. being rich in omega-3 fats, if it contains at least 10 per

cent of oils most of which are omega-3 oils. In Australasia, omega-3-rich fish includes salmon (fresh and canned) sardines, fresh tuna, trout, gemfish, blue-eye trevalla, ling,

blue mackerel, oysters and arrow squid.

How much omega-3 is in a piece of fish?

The amount of omega-3s in a piece of fish varies according to the variety of the fish you’re eating. So per

75g (child-size serve) of fish you’ll find:

• 250-425mg omega-3 in Atlantic or Australian salmon

• 250-425mg omega-3 in Blue-eye trevalla

• 80mg omega-3 or less in ling

• 1000mg or more omega-3 in some canned salmon or sardines.