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.

Children who are fit and healthy are more likely to take vitamin supplements than those who actually need them. This is the result of a study by researchers at the University of California Davis.

We live in an era of vitamin supplementation as millions of people swallow supplement pills each day ranging from your OTC vitamin and mineral supplements to more “exotic” dietary supplements such as krill oil and flax seed extract.

But do we really need these supplements and do they really work?

The UC Davis study showed that most American children and teenagers who take supplements actually do not need them. Ironically, many children who are malnourished and are at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiency are not taking any.

The results are based on data from 10,828 children aged 2 to 17 years old who were part of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2004. Here are some specific figures:

• 30 to 40% of children whose daily diet meet their nutritional requirements are more likely to take vitamins.
• Only 28% of children who are underweight, have poor diet or medical problems take supplements.

It seems that supplement use is closely associated with socioeconomic factors.

• 22% of children below poverty cut off take vitamins
• 43% of those in middle- and upper-income levels take vitamins. These are also the children who have greater access to health care.
• 36% of children in households with sufficient food take vitamins.
• 15% of children in households with “food insecurity and hunger” take vitamins.

These figures reflect the inequalities in health care not only in the US but in many other parts of the world.

You may ask, is it so bad that these children take vitamins that they do not need?

Apparently experts think so. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages vitamin use in healthy children under 1 year old though this probably does not include vitamin D. Several studies put doubt on the benefits and safety of vitamin and dietary supplements.

The researchers also point out that feeding unnecessary pills to very young children, e.g. 2 to 4- year olds, might confuse them and give them the impression that taking medications is a part of our normal daily life.

Indeed, with unnecessary supplementation for our children, even if we can afford it, we could be creating a pill-swallowing generation.

A recent study gives the following disturbing statistics:

• 40% of American babies and toddlers don’t get enough vitamin D
• 12% of infants and young children are already deficient in vitamin D,
• 28% are at risk for vitamin D deficiency

Those especially at risk are breastfed babies. This is due to the fact that while baby formula is fortified with vitamin D, breastmilk seems to be deficient in this essential vitamin.

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and soft skulls in newborn babies. It is also linked to multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfed infants (exclusively and partially) should be given vitamin D supplement of 400 IU/day until they are weaned or shifted fully to vitamin D-fortified formula or whole milk.

In a previous post, Tamsen Butler recalls her experience with infant vitamin prescription for her breastfed baby. I can fully understand her feelings. We are fully convinced that breast milk is the best food for our babies and having to give them supplements goes against the grain.

In Europe, giving vitamin D or any vitamin supplement for that matter to infants is not a common practice. Breast milk is usually deemed to provide all the nutrients that a baby needs in the first months. I mixed-fed my twins for 4 months with pumped breast milk and formula. They needed a special formula for premiees because they were born premature with low birth weights. However, they never got any vitamin supplements at any time nor did our paediatrician ever mention it. At 12 months, like most German children of their age, they were drinking the normal milk we buy in the supermarket with 1.5% fat content but unfortified with vitamin D.

Older children in the US are also at risk for vitamin D deficiency. This is because vitamin D in the food we eat is very limited. Instead, our main source of vitamin is sun exposure. Supplementation is also recommended for older children and adolescents who don’t get the recommended daily intake of vitamin D in their daily diet.

While most milk products in the US are vitamin D-fortified, this is not true in Germany and Switzerland and many other European countries. Some foodstuffs though like breakfast cereals and fruit drinks may be fortified. However, our main source of vitamin D in Europe is still sun exposure. In winter time in Zurich where it can be pretty foggy, train signs would tell the passengers which mountain they should go to get some sun.

In recent years, there is more pressure for supplementation, even in Europe. Vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent in northern European countries in spring and winter. Finland started fortification of some food products in 2005. In 2007, the Irish Food safety Authority (FSAI) recommended a nationwide supplementation in infants under 12 months old. In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has become a global problem. Lifestyle changes all over the world led people to spend less and less time outdoors, thereby less exposure to the sun. Even Singaporeans who live right smack on the equator are having health problems from lack of sunlight.

However, the practice of routine vitamin supplementation is still a subject for controversy. Many health experts recommend that exposure to midday sun without sunscreen is the best way to get vitamin D. Dermatology experts maintain that diet and supplements, and not sunshine should be the main source of vitamin D. This is to counter the risk for skin cancer. The American Heart Association does not recommend taking vitamin supplements in general.

When I proudly announced to my doctor that I would breastfeed my baby exclusively, the first thing she did was congratulate me on making a good choice and then she wrote out a prescription for infant vitamins. It came in a liquid form, and every day I had to give my baby a dropper-full of the stuff. I tasted it myself – because I always tasted everything my baby had to take so I knew if I was forcing her to swallow some vile tastes – and it was really sweet and a little bit gross. She took it pretty easily, but I wondered if it was something that was really necessary.

The way my doctor explained it, the main reason my daughter needed the supplemental vitamin was mostly for the Vitamin D. I don’t know if formula is fortified with Vitamin D or if she just instinctively knew that I would keep my daughter out of the sun, but for whatever reason she felt it was necessary. My daughter took the vitamins for almost a year, and when my son was born he followed suit. Once in a while they would spit the vitamin liquid right back out, and I’ll be the first to admit that I never did get those stains out of my shirts (I tried). I didn’t worry about them not getting 100% of the dosage every single day, though, because I wasn’t completely sold on the idea that my breastmilk wasn’t enough for their needs at this early age.

I’ve seen infant drops sold over the counter, but the version we used was from the pharmacy. The vitamin drops that are sold in stores probably taste better, but then again I wonder if they are also laced with more sweeteners. I don’t know if vitamins are a necessity or if my doctor was just overly cautious, but either way I begrudgingly gave them to both my kids when they were infants. I suppose they were of some benefit, because neither of my kids had a Vitamin D deficiency. I wonder, though, how much of a threat that really is.

Eating healthy during your pregnancy will help you to maintain quality nutrients in your body to help you and to help in the growth of your baby. Although the majority of your nutrition will come from food you eat, Iron could possibly be one nutrient your Physician will have you take in both you pre-natal vitamin and an additional supplement.Hemoglobin is a red blood cell protein that is created by iron. This protein helps to transport oxygen to tissue and your organs. Once you are pregnant, your body will need to make additional blood for you and baby. Additionally with blood increase, your body’s requirement for iron will increase by as much as 50 percent.

Some simple tips for iron supplement consumption – take on an empty stomach for easier absorption, plus it will cut down on nausea. Both calcium and caffeine will affect iron absorption into your body, so make sure to take iron and calcium separately and try to drink caffeinated products some time after iron consumption.

Foods rich in Iron are:

• Liver
• Lean beef
• Chicken
• Iron-fortified cereal
• Spinach
• Lentils
• Kidney beans
• Raisins

Some benefits of Iron are:

• Produces hemoglobin
• Produces collagen
• Protects body from infection

Some risks associated with vitamin E are:

• Not enough will cause iron deficiency
• Iron deficiency could cause heart issues

Recommended daily intake:

• Infants
  • Birth to 6 months, .27 mg/day
  • 7 months to 12 months, 11 mg/day

• Women
  • Pregnant, 27 mg/day
  • Nursing, under 18, 10 mg/day
  • Nursing, over 18, 9 mg/day

Other Nutritional links:
Essential Nutrients during Pregnancy
Vitamin A and Pregnancy
Women Need More Folic Acid
Vitamin E and Pregnancy

This information is offered to you as information only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your medical professional for information and or questions.

Source: Iron, A Healthy Me

Everyone is familiar with the Food Pyramid. A colorful diagram of food groups you should eat on a daily basis and how much of each group will give you your daily nutrients. Simple and easy to use, but what guidelines are in place during pregnancy? According to the My Pyramid Plan for Moms, expectant moms should increase their calorie intake approximately 300 calories per day. This increase will depend on several factors such as weight before pregnancy, height, and physical activity and should be under the advice of your Doctor.

Always remember to eat a good variety and balance of foods from each food group. Making sure you get complete nutrients from the foods eaten will help to avoid taking extra supplements during pregnancy. If you do take supplements during pregnancy for added nutrients, do so at your Doctor request and under their supervision.

To gain a better understanding of the servings suggested of each food group during pregnancy, please visit My Pyramid Plan for Moms. This information is dependent on personal information prior to pregnancy. Once you have submitted your information, you will see a guide built based on your specific input. Print it out and take it to your next appointment to discuss with your Doctor.

Tip: If you do take a pre-natal vitamin or additional supplements, try to take them during a meal or snack to avoid nausea or possibly at bedtime with a small snack. Ask your Doctor for his recommendation.

Source:

My Pyramid Plan for Moms, MyPyramid Web site
Pregnancy Nutrition, American Pregnancy Association Web site