A significant amount of research shows a link between the consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids and some childhood conditions related to focus, mood and behavior. Studies also show how a majority of children seem to be deficient in these essential fatty acids owing to gaps in nutrition from diet.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are considered essential fatty acids since they are required for the brain and body to function optimally. However, our bodies cannot make them in amounts that support that kind of functioning which is why they must come from our diets.
It has also been found that the standard American diet does not provide sufficient amounts of Omega-3 which explains the raging deficiency. So what can we do about it? To ensure that your kid is getting adequate level of Omega-3, all you have got to do is look for an appropriate supplement that will help maintain the levels without the risk of over dosage.
This article will help you to find the best Omega-3 supplement for your kid by reviewing the Top 5 products in the market.
Top 5 Best Omega-3 For Your Kids On The Market
For those clients who believe in a thorough research before introducing supplements to their kids, we have reviewed the Top 5 products at length and have also included the advantages and disadvantages of the products.
The reviews discuss the key features of the products, the ingredients and the benefits that you can get out of using them.
We have also included a Buyer’s Guide in this article because we don’t want our clients to believe a review article only because we are asking them to but to base their belief on the quintessential features of the products.
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
What is the Best Omega-3 For Your Kids to buy? Keep reading to find out!
1. L'il Critters Omega-3 DHA - best omega 3 gummies for kids
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
Surveys of diet for children in the United States suggest that 95% of children do not eat as much seafood as they should. This explains the rampant deficiency among children as well as adults who carry forward the deficiency into adulthood. Critters Omega-3 DHA Gummy fish has been specifically designed to cater to kids who are deficient in Omega-3. By providing 32 mg of DHA in each of its servings that come in three different flavors, Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Cherryade gummies, this is one of your best bets when it comes to Omega-3 supplementation.
What’s more, this product has been made in the United States using natural colors, flavors, and premium quality ingredients that are absolutely safe to offer to your child. The fish oil that this supplement contains has been purified and also tested to rule out the inclusion of mercury and PCBs.
Not restricting itself to Omega-3 alone, this supplement also goes on to be a valuable source of antioxidants vitamin C & E. You would be glad to know that when you are offering this supplement to your kid, you are also adding DHA along with 100IU of Vitamin D3 for proper formation and support of the bone structure.
Gone are the days when Omega-3 supplements meant dry and chalky pills that were hard to swallow. This supplement comes in the form of easy-to-offer gummies that are 100% kid approved as far as taste and convenience is concerned.
2. Nordic Naturals - Complete Omega Junior - best nordic naturals fish oil
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
When you need the complete spectrum of Omega-3 fatty acids to ensure that your child’s learning, mood, and memory are always at their best, then Nordic Naturals Complete Omega Junior is what you should ideally opt for.
This supplement comes in the form of chewable soft gels that will provide your child with a balance of Omega-3, 6 and 9 for the proper support of your child’s brain and eye development. It aims to provide an overall well-being for your kid. It is complete in the sense that it also includes important nutrients that help nourish the skin, hair, and nails of your kid while tasting like a lemon drop!
Did you know that there are no government regulated fish oil quality standards in the United States? This piece of information could clearly make parents uncomfortable if they are planning to offer Omega-3 supplements to their kids. However, when you choose Nordic Naturals, you are picking a product that exceeds stringent European standards of testing. The product excludes all detectable heavy metals and the fish oil in the product does not show detectable dioxins.
The freshness of the product is evident from the fact that the soft gels do not taste or smell fishy and do not contain harmful free radicals. The freshness is maintained by the by the oxygen-free manufacturing process that lowers the peroxide value and keeps the fish oil fresher for longer.
This also ensures that you have a hassle-free time offering these gels to your picky child. During the encapsulation process, the addition of natural food essences gives these soft gels a fresh, mild and fruity flavor that is loved by almost every child.
There is no denying the fact that the quality control mechanism of Nordic Naturals as a brand makes its line of products absolutely reliable. The species of fish is reliably sourced, in the sense that only those fish that are naturally low in toxins and contain higher levels of Omega-3 fats are chosen for this supplement.
Only four types of fish are used to make this supplement and none of these is endangered and all four thrive in the cleanest waters in the world. Considering the fact that the brand believes in preserving the ecosystem, it is definitely a reliable product to offer to your child for maintaining his or her Omega-3 levels.
3. SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Gummy Vitamins - best vitamins for kids
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
When you expect your kid to be an all-rounder, shouldn’t his or her Omega-3 supplement be the same? This is probably what the manufacturers had on mind when they made this multi vitamin a complete all-in-one supplement that comes in three delicious new flavors of white grape, mixed berry, and cherry.
Each serving of this supplement includes Omega 3s that enhances brain health, Vitamin D3 for stronger immunity, Vitamin B12 to improve mental focus and energy and folate for a healthy development of the nervous system.
You might wonder how SmartyPants are different from other brands of Omega-3 supplements. This is first of brands to bring together ten essential nutrients that include Omega-3 EPA, DHA fish oil and a B12 equivalent to make one delicious and irresistible gummy. You will very soon have your kids asking for the gummy more often than required.
Unlike other supplements that tend to include a little bit of everything, this one at hand simply focuses on giving your kids the nutrients that they would otherwise lack from their diet. Moreover, the forms of these nutrients used in this supplement are the ones that can be absorbed by the body more readily than other forms.
Most parents tend to worry about the sustainability of the fish oil that is included in all Omega-3 supplements. However, when it comes to SmartyPants, there is nothing that you need to worry about.
The fish oil is not only eco-friendly but is also responsibly sourced from wild-caught fish that are nowhere near endangered. Moreover, these gummies are absolutely safe for your kid’s consumption because they do not contain synthetic colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. They are also free from gluten, casein, and potential allergens.
Talking about allergies, SmartyPants supplements are specifically free from a wide range of potential allergens like gluten, wheat, yeast, dairy, eggs, tree nuts, pine nuts, and peanuts.
Owing to the fact that the supplements are tested at every stage of the manufacturing process and produced in a facility free from allergens, they are one of the safest bets for your little one. Considering the fact that the fish oil used in this supplement is refined, there is no need for it to be labeled as a potential allergen.
4. Barlean’s Omega Pals Fish Oil - best fish oil
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
If all that your kid wants to have is dessert, then all that you need to do is buy the 8 oz bottle of Barlean’s Organic Omega Swirl Fish oil. An Omega-3 supplement that gives you the taste and sensation of digging into a flavorful fruit smoothie is the perfect way to get your child to have his or her supplements without fuss or tears. It is clearly the most delicious way of providing the quintessential Omega-3s to your child.
This supplement was created to provide nutritional support to growing children so that their brain functions optimally and cognitive functions are normal. It also caters to your child’s attention span and intelligence.
Several users have noticed visible changes in the first month of offering this supplement to their kids. They have reported how their otherwise hyperactive kid started settling down and showed visible areas of improvement in academics and co-curricular activities.
The supplement is also known to improve eye health for better visibility. The main ingredients of the supplement are fish oil, xylitol, water, glycerine, citric acid, turmeric etc. A daily dosage of 1 teaspoon is required for your kid. You can offer the supplement as it is or mix it into juices, yogurt, oatmeal or other forms of dessert that your kid may like.
5. Bioglan Kids Smart Omega 3 Fish Oil - best fish oil for kids
Last update on 2022-09-30 PST - Details
Bioglan Kid’s Smart Hi DHA Omega-3 fish oil is formulated to provide your child with optimal levels of Omega-3 so that they can function well. It contains DHA and EPA; both the nutrients are equally important to support normal and healthy brain functioning. Since our bodies cannot produce EPA or DHA, these essential fatty acids are required to be drawn from the food that we eat or the supplements that we consume to meet our daily needs of these nutrients.
The Omega-3 found in Kids Smart fish oil is particularly high in DHA that makes it more beneficial for kids. When you compare it to the other brands in the market, you will realize that it hardly has artificial flavorings or sweeteners but is still very easy t offer to kids owing to its fresh and fruity flavor. There have been parents who have reported how their kids would keep asking for the easily chewable capsules only because they would burst in their mouths and make the entire process a lot of fun.
What’s more, this dietary supplement contains ten times more fish oil than other supplements on the market. Its potency is higher than a lot of brands that you would come across. Each of these capsules contains 500 mg of purified fish oil acquired from the fresh waters of Scandinavia.
The capsules provide 133 mg of DHA and 28 mg of EPA in each serving. The capsules are safe for children who are 3 years and older. Considering the fact that the capsules provide eight times more DHA than normal supplements around, it helps support brain function, focus, memory, and mood of your kid a lot more effective than other supplements can.
The capsules are very easy to consume. All that you need to do is place the Fish Burstlet directly into your kid’s mouth and let him or her chew it. It is sure to give your kids an exhilarating experience when the burst let squirts into his or her mouth. If you are not quite sure about your kid being able to have it this way, you can also snip it off and squeeze the contents of the capsule into his or her mouth.
BUYING THE BEST OMEGA-3 FOR KIDS: A BUYERS GUIDE
It is very important to understand that Omega-3 EFAs cannot be produced by the body in amounts that are ideally required. This is why a proper diet containing these nutrients is a must.
However, with kids, there is nothing like a perfect meal because they are generally so distracted while growing up that nutrition often takes a backseat. This leads to a deficiency in Omega-3. How would you identify if your kid is deficient in Omega-3 or not? Read below!
IS OMEGA-3 FROM FOOD ENOUGH FOR YOUR KIDS?
Fish is the primary source of Omega-3. However, with the way fish are bred and raised nowadays, eating fish several times a week might not get you enough EPA and DHA. As parents, you could also be concerned about the environmental factors like toxins etc that are found in fish. All in all, most kids these days have a diet that is not very rich in seafood. This is why supplementation is so important.
In addition to a poor diet, there are other factors that also hinder the proper absorption of EFAs. These factors are poor diet, lower levels of certain minerals and vitamins, compromised immunity and a diet that has more saturated fats like dairy, meat, fast foods, processed foods and fried foods. Moreover, if your kid already has health challenges, he or she will be naturally deficient and will need to take 2-4 grams of EPA and DHA per day. This will be practically impossible to acquire from fish alone.
HOW TO FIND OUT IF THE FISH OIL HAS MET INTERNATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS?
The only two factors that will help you to find out whether the fish oil has met international quality standards are smell and taste. Before offering the supplement, test it by yourself to find out if the fish oil smells or tastes fishy.
If it does, there is a high probability that the fish oil has been exposed to oxygen during the manufacturing process and has therefore turned rancid. Rancid or oxidized oils should not be given to your kids because they are not healthy at all.
Yet another thing to look out for is a strong flavoring. Fish oils that have string and distinct flavorings added to them tend to be artificially flavored to deliberately suppress the rancid fishy flavor. Ideally, all fish oil manufacturers should offer transparency in their fishing practices and should be respectful towards the environment while acquiring fish oil.
OMEGA-3 AND YOUR KID’S INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL
Research and studies have clearly suggested how regular intake of Omega-3 can help your child to reach his or her maximum intellectual potential. However, with the lack of this brain boosting nutrient in almost 95% of diets in kids, you could be seriously hampering your child’s full potential.
THE OBVIOUS BENEFITS OF INCLUDING OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS ARE:
A study conducted in Sweden suggested that school children consuming higher amounts of fish or having sustainably sourced fish oils had around 15% higher grades than those who did not.
OMEGA-3 SPECIFICATIONS FOR YOUR CHILD
CONCLUSION
While a regular fish oil supplement is perfectly suited for your child, do pay attention to the EPA and DHA count because it matters a good deal. Yet another thing to pay attention to is the fact that EPA and DHA are best available in Omega-3 products that are animal based.
Always offer Omega-3 supplements to your kid along with a meal that contains fat that invariably enhances the absorption of Omega-3. The final thing to remember is that Omega-3 supplements are highly perishable so buying them in bulk is not a good idea.
The bottom line is while Omega-3 continues to be one of the most beneficial supplements that you could offer to your child, it is also important to choose wisely.
