We’ve been reading a lot about the importance of DHA as “brain food” for children and adults, alike, but what exactly is DHA?

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an essential Omega-3 fatty acid found naturally in foods like salmon, tuna and other coldwater fish, as well as flax and pumpkin seeds. Most children and toddlers’ diets (not to mention many adults’ diets) lack sufficient quantities of these foods, which is why trusted pediatrician Dr. Sears recommends adding a DHA supplement to your child’s diet.

When the body lacks essential Omega-3 fatty acids, the cells try to build “replacement fatty acids,” which are similar in function but may cause depression and Attention Deficit Disorder. A diet rich in DHA lowers the blood level of these replacement fatty acids and also of harmful fats such as cholesterol.

So how did DHA earn its reputation as “brain food?” According to Dr. Sears, DHA is the primary structural component of brain tissue, as well as an important part of the enzymes within cell membranes that allow the membranes to transport valuable nutrients in and out of the cells. DHA also affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, and helps brain cells communicate with each other more effectively. Simply put, a healthy brain is a smart brain!

A diet rich in DHA has been shown to improve focus, behavior and cognitive function, and even increase learning capacity in young children. Children who are more focused and can concentrate better also tend to remain in better moods longer — less tantrums and more time to play, study and learn!

DHA also helps vision development because the retina contains a high concentration of the fatty acid. Improved vision development also leads to greater learning capabilities, since the eyes are such important tools in education.

When the body has enough DHA, the brain can function at its highest capacity. This is especially important in infants and toddlers, because brains grow more rapidly in the first few years than at any other time of life. Evidence shows that the increased academic performance of breast-fed children is due, at least in part, to the DHA-rich diet breast milk provides. Breast milk contains DHA for growing infants, and most infant formula today is fortified with DHA. But toddlers don’t receive DHA from these sources, which is why a supplement is important. Dr. Sears offers a variety of vitamin products to insure that your child is getting enough of the crucial fatty acid.

Dr. Sears’ specially-developed Go Fish Brainy Kidz Omega-3 DHA natural fruit-based soft chews contain optimal levels of DHA for improved brain function. Each soft chew contains 100 mg of DHA and is certified by Safe Source ™ to be free of detectable levels of over 250 environmental contaminants, including mercury, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and pesticides. The pediatrician-developed, kid-approved, tasty vitamin supplements are all-natural and do not contain any high-fructose corn syrup.

In 1985, Congress passed the Infant Formula Act, which required that the Food and Drug Administration ensure all infant formulas were able to meet a baby’s nutritional needs. Anyone who has looked at infant formulas over the years knows it is an ever changing product. Now, many products on the market boast the addition of DHA and ARA, which is found in, you guessed it, breast milk. DHA is docosahexaenoic acid and ARA is arachidonic acid. Some research has shown that these fatty acids are necessary in the diet of babies, especially those born prematurely.

So how do even the highest quality formulas, stack up to what nature has provided? Well the simple answer is, they don’t, but let’s go a little further. Companies that produce infant formulas should be given credit for constantly improving their products, and at this point having formulas on the market that seem pretty close to breast milk. The fact is however, that when it comes to your baby’s health, ‘close’ may not be what you want, but for some of us it does offer great comfort. Many women cannot breastfeed and having infant formula that is close to real breast milk is comforting.

Breast milk is in fact living matter, which is capable of adapting to your child’s dietary needs. It contains materials which boosts the child’s immune-system, as well as white blood cells. This is difficult if not impossible for any commercial infant formula maker to duplicate.

Man made formulas possess no digestive enzymes, or substances to help build the baby’s immune system. They are basically nutrients that are packaged together. Each new product is basically research as the formula companies try to improve on their offerings. Any mother who decides on formulas therefore, should familiarize herself with these products, and so make an informed choice as to what is best for her baby.

There is still no data as to the long term effects of infant formula. Questions are constantly being raised about whether a formula-fed child is really as healthy as he or she appears to be. It is important to remember that a company’s first goal is profit, so it is up to us to make the decisions that will affect our children for years to come by finding the right formula if breastfeeding is not an option.

It seems that taking DHA supplements during pregnancy has some beneficial effects to the baby. Researchers at the University of Connecticut and the Louisiana State University studied the effect of DHA on babies when mothers take DHA from week 24 till delivery.

Twenty-nine moms ate on the average, 5 cereal bars per week. 14 moms got bars with DHA and 15 moms got bars without DHA. Nine months after delivery, the babies were tested for problem-solving skills and intelligence.

Findings of the study show that babies of the DHA-eating moms have better problem-solving skills than babies of moms who didn’t take any DHA. However, there was no difference in the intelligence test results.

DHA – short for docosahexaenoic acid ? is an omega-3 fatty acid and is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain and the eyes. Low levels of this substance in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer`s disease and other neurological disorders. A good source of DHA is fish oil but it is also present in many functional foods.

Source:

Judge et al. Maternal consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid?containing functional food during pregnancy: benefit for infant performance on problem-solving but not on recognition memory tasks at age 9 months. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 6, 1572-1577, June 2007.