After a hot and fun-filled summer, children are preparing to head back to school this September. While the thought of homework and studying may be stressful for both you and your child, with the proper nutrients and back-to-school tips, this school year could be much easier for all.
It is important to ensure your child’s concentration levels are back in full gear for the coming school year. In addition to sending them to bed earlier, waking them up earlier in the morning and throwing in a few brainteasers to kick-start their brains, you may want to look at what they eat.
Increasing evidence suggests that children’s dietary intake of Omega-3 is related to mental performance and concentration levels. When we learn something new, our brain cells send messages to one another. To do this efficiently, though, the cells need proper nourishment and that is why food is a powerful tool for maintaining brainpower.
The results of a school study involving 120 children aged between six and 11 showed that supplementing with a daily dose of Omega-3 with vitamins improved the children’s behaviour by 35 per cent, with teachers and parents noticing improvements in attention levels, alertness and focus (Amanda Kirby in The Omega-3 Vitamin Classroom Study 2005: The Dyscovery Centre Report).
The Omega-3 required for brain development cannot be made naturally in the body and can only be obtained through the diet. For generations, fish has been known as brain food—that’s because it’s a rich source of essential fatty acids, which are regarded as the building blocks of the brain. Oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are rich in fatty acids, may contribute to brain development and function.
Although Omega-3 is widely regarded as beneficial for children, it can be difficult to get them to eat oily fish, particularly when taste is so important. Fortunately, Seven Seas’ Haliborange Omega-3 is here to help. Haliborange Omega-3 has been specially formulated for children to combine Omega-3 with the important vitamins A, C, D and E, which are essential for a child’s healthy growth and development. Haliborange Omega-3 is available in delicious orange and blackcurrant fruit burst capsules, providing children with all the goodness of fish without the taste.
So why not give your children Haliborange Omega-3 every day as part of a healthy diet? You could be helping them physically, mentally, and at school.
Back to school tips
• Eating a balanced diet, which includes plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, is essential. Try including a couple of pieces of fresh fruit in their lunchbox every day
• Drinking plenty of water is essential for concentration and alertness. Dehydration can occur between breakfast and lunch, so taking water to school is a must
• Get active! Continue to develop their creativity, imagination and social skills by encouraging them to play with others
• Make sure they get enough sleep to restore, refresh and recover for the next day
• Give them Haliborange Omega-3 every day to help maintain concentration levels and healthy brain development
Brain facts
• 60 per cent of the brain structure is fat and is vitally important to brain function
The fat required is the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid Omega-3, which contains the rich nutrients DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), found naturally in oily fish
• DHA is an important component of the brain, making up 25 per cent of fat material
• DHA is the most important nutrient in the brain after water
