Monday, December 7, 2009

Omega 3 for kids health

Omega 3 oils are an essential part of our nutritional requirement. We now know the single most important factor in chronic illness, even in kids, is inflammation and the single best treatment (but not the only one) for inflammation is Omega 3 oils. There are more than 100 health conditions now linked with inflammation and low Omega 3 oils in both children and adults. Unfortunately our kids (and adults) are deficient in them, and as a result will manifest various adverse health conditions. GP's should assess the Omega 3 status of all children they see and asses their nutritional status before making any recommendations for medication. This is both a simple and common sense approach. Our children are deficient in nutrients not pharmaceutical drugs.


  1. How much omega3 do you recommend for adults and in what form? I'm a healthy veggie (ovo-lacto)and prefer to take flax oil in gel-cap form. The one I take is a 3-6-9 blend, but I'm never sure what the best dose is. Flax oil itself really isn't very pleasant, tho it does make a smoothie or protein shake nice and creamy.

  2. Hi Dr. D,

    Question about fats to be used in the kitchen. You recommend a few posta before Olive oil. I have heard good things about ghee. Can ghee replace olive oil?


  3. Hi Deb
    Flax seed oil is great, just make sure you only purchase one stored in a dark preferably glass bottle in the fridge as flax (or linseed) oil can go rancid in temps above 25 degrees and if exposed to air and strong light for long periods of time. Once it is rancid the oil is more damaging to the body than beneficial.
    Being vegetarian, flax seed oil is probably the only real choice for you. Omega 3 obtained from plants is called alpha linolenic acid. Omega 3 in this form still has to be digested by your body to convert it from alpha linolenic into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the bio-available forms for omega 3. Conversion of dietary alpha linolenic acid into EPA is limited. Because the efficacy of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis decreases down the cascade of alpha linolenic acid conversion, DHA synthesis from alpha linolenic acid is even more restricted than that of EPA. This will just mean you need to consume a little more that the average bear. For a beneficial level of EPA and DHA the average person should consume 4 good serves of Australian caught fish every week. Understanding that this is not always possible approximately 6 standard fish oil capsules per day (standard = 180mg EPA 120mg DHA per capsule) for Flaxseed oil that works to 2 dessert spoons a day (flax is approx 55% alpha linolenic acid and some is lost during conversion to EPA and DHA)

    Hope this helps

    Hi Latha

    Ghee is derived from clarified butter as is great to cook with on special occasions. It has a high smoke point which makes it great for high temp cooking without causing free radical development. This is another good choice along with coconut oil. I still recommend you use olive oil for everyday cooking and just bring out the Ghee for special occasion foods like naan, roti, mysore pak, halva and laddu.