DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Are they necessary for your child's health (or yours?)

DHA or Omega-3 fatty acids, are said to be hugely important for your health and for brain and eye development in children, but are they really necessary?

What does DHA do and what doesn't it do?

Repeated science research has shown DHA can play a positive role in brain and eye development in children and has been linked as a friend to helping improve heart function, reduce menstrual pain, help with lupus and arthritis,

But before we all hail Omega-3, let's remember nothing happens in a vacuum.

Wellness is all about the integrated whole. DHA or anything else, works best when our entire system of mind, body, spirit is balanced.

Is it the new Vitamin C?

When I was a kid, it was all about vitamin C. Get your Vitamin C here, get it here, you better get Vitamin C or you'll die.

And while this is partly true, it always seemed weird there was this magic bullet, that if I just get enough Vitamin C all will be well.

There is no magic bullet

Well, Vitamin is certainly good and so it seems omega-3, BUUUUT, your mental attitude turns it on. Wellness means no one thing will keep you healthy and no one thing will lay you low.

Keep a good balance of mind, body and spirit and you won't need to rely on a single magic bullet, nor will you suffer when one thing goes.

When I Integrate an overall healthy diet with vigorous and relaxing physical exercise and keep a positive mental attitude, and enjoy what I already have, I build a strong interconnected web that does not fail when one thing droops.

Non-animal sources of DHA

Having said that, DHA or Omega-3 fatty acids are synthesized by fish and other animals from the algae they eat. When we eats the fish, we gets the DHA.

But you can by-pass the fish and go directly to the vegetarian source.

• Seaweed is a mega food that also contains DHA. You can also eat algae based supplements.
• Flaxseed oil, the king of omega-3, about a teaspoon a day has more DHA than a serving of salmon. The crushed seeds too are a good source, but keep refrigerated as it spoils fast.
• Hemp seeds or hemp seed oil.(Find your own), nutty taste good for sauces, salads, soups and dressings (but not for cooking)
• Canola oil (or rapeseed as it is sometimes unfortunately named)

Animal sources of DHA

They're pumpin' DHA into all kinds of foods these days, from milk to eggs to yogurt to pomegranate juice and (much of which is derived from algae). Baby formulas are falling over themselves to offer it.

Also those oily fish we hear about; your salmons, your mackerels, your bluefish. But be careful of high mercury levels - hence the veggie alternative.

So get your DHA here, get your DHA, just remember, it's one part in a long chain of wellness for you and your baby.

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