When it comes to proper nutrition, there’s a lot of talk lately about omega-3 fats: “smart fats” that are  found in especially high amounts in seafood, as well as some plants (like flax seed oil, canola oil, nuts, and seeds).  Growing brains, especially those of infants and small children, need omega-3 fats in order to function properly.

Human breast milk is a high-level source of omega-3 fats may explain why breast-fed babies have a higher IQ than those who are not. In the words of Dr. Sears:

Oceans of recent research show that omega-3 fats make brains healthier, especially the brains of young kids and older adults. Researchers believe that the high levels of omega-3 fats in breast milk help to explain the differences in IQ between children who received human milk in infancy and those who did not. The body uses omega-3 fats to make cell membranes. Omega-3 fats are also needed to make myelin, the insulation around nerves, and to help neurotransmitters function at the optimal levels. Omega-3 fats are known as essential fatty acids from food. Other types of fats can be manufactured in the body, but the body cannot make essential fatty acids. That is why it is important for growing brains to get adequate amounts of these smart fats from food. If there are not enough “smart” fats available to make brain cells and other key substances, the body uses lesser-quality fats and produce s lesser-quality cells. The “dumb” fats (known as replacement fatty acids), the kind that come from the trans fats in hydrogenated oils, clog the receptors in the cell membrane, and the brain cell does not function well.

Neurotransmitters, the biochemical messengers that carry information from one brain cell to another, fit into receptors on cell membranes like a key fits into a lock. The keys and the locks must match. If the cell membrane is composed of the right fats, the locks and keys match. But if the receptors are clogged with the wrong fats, the neurotransmitter keys won’t fit, and the brain-cell function suffers. Omega-3 fats keep the receptors open so the neurotransmitters fit and the brain can function optimally.

For more info on omega-3′s and children’s health, visit these links:

A.D.D. or N.D.D. (Nutritional Deficit Disorder)?

Smart Foods for the Teenage Brain

Food for Thought: Best Brain Food

Dr. Sear’s L.E.A.N. Program: Making kid nutrition fun, tasty, and easy! nutrition fun, tasty, and easy

“The demands on a woman’s body during pregnancy often leave her feeling depleted, physically and emotionally,” says NaturalNews.com, and “depression is common among pregnant women.” However, care-takers have expressed concern about the possible harmful effects of anti-depressants on both mother and child, and so the search is on for an alternative to pharmaceuticals.

A possible lead appeared when researchers at China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan noted that depression is often associated with lower levels of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). So Dr. Kuan-Pin Su and colleagues performed a study to test this out, and found that two thirds of the women consuming PUFAs showed significant improvement, compared with 27 per cent of the control group.  “The best news came when researchers noted the absence of negative effects on either mothers or their newborn babies. A few mothers experienced minor stomach upset the first few days while their systems got used to the new substances.”

NaturalNews goes on to say that,  “In an effort to provide for the baby’s needs, a woman may lose 3 percent of her brain mass during the last trimester.” (Side point: I knew it! I always said that, in addition to making me forgetful, each pregnancy makes me a tad less intelligent than I used to be. No, seriously! I wasn’t always like this…) This loss is also thought to be responsible for postpartum depression.

The American Chronicle claims that Omega-3s consumed during pregnancy are also beneficial for the baby, assisting with the development of baby’s brain, nervous system, and the retinal tissue of the eyes.  If you want to go back further, the benefits of PUFAs begin even before conception. Omega-3 oils are required to produce healthy and vigorous eggs and sperm.

It is worth noting that the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obsterticians and Gynocologists cautions women in regards to certain nutritional suppliments. “There is a deficiency of high quality evidence that would support the use of other nutritional suppliments in pregnancy eg. omega 3-fatty acids. In the absence of such evidence, the best advice would be to avoid such suppliments, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy, where any unanticipated adverse effects would be most likely to occur.” The safest thing to do is to consume your omega 3′s as part of a nutritious diet, including things such as whole flax seed, certain types of fish, spices, nuts, and soy products.

For more information on Omega-3′s and what foods you can eat to incorporate them into you diet, visit NaturalNews.com.