Omega-3 is widely recognized, especially in the recent years as being a healthy and vital part of keeping one’s body in proper working order.
The wonder nutrient has received considerable attention from both media and the public, something food and beverage manufacturers have been quick to pick up on.
However, the media demand has far out-stepped solid scientific research.
This leaves the actual benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids under stringent debate with many less educated opinions affecting the public perception.
It is widely accepted that Omega-3 has vast health benefits to those that consume it on a regular basis. However, just how well-founded are these beliefs? There have been few clinical trials made public about the genuine effects of Omega-3 on children and those that have, had many of their findings canibalised by the media.
Currently most research that examines the effects of Omega-3 oils on children has been focused on children with learning or social difficulties. The results to date have been positive from virtually all projects. Not just in the US. Europe is also pioneering new studies and ways of thinking about food and the essential nutrients therein.
It is from these trials on children with learning and social difficulties that most people get their views on Omega-3. The success indicated by the first trials made headline news across the world and suddenly there came a massive demand for all things Omega-3. It wasn’t long before Omega-3 enriched products started hitting the shelves and a new health food claim was conceived.
The Omega-3 food business is undoubtedly huge and is fuelled by the claims over the health benefits of the essential fatty acid. It has also lead to a good deal of confusion amongst the general consumers, according to a Which? report. The report states that a good deal of the time consumers do not know what it is they are actually buying, but get swayed by products claiming Omega-3 benefits. Even when the claimed ingredients might be almost nonexistent.
Certain features of the nutrient are certainly true. For example, having a healthy intake of the Omega-3 fats leads to better skin and eyesight as well as improved cardiovascular activity. This is the major attracting feature for consumers, and rightly so. This is where the strength of Omega-3 is believed to lie.
The tests that showed the most positive outcomes in children were conducted with children afflicted with certain difficulties. More often than not these children also suffer from many conditions associated with fatty acid deficiencies. Studies showed that a healthy, omega-3 rich diet eased these symptoms incredibly, making the children a lot more comfortable.
Attention-based problems are also believed to be alleviated by an increased dose of Omega-3. Many conditions such as lack of concentration, memory problems and distractibility are all linked to the lack of Omega-3 fatty acids which promote the conversion of glucose in the human body which indirectly helps to combat these problems.
The positive reaction to Omega-3 by children suffering from learning difficulties is also a significant boost to the Omega-3 industry.Whilst studies are still underway as to all of the benefits of the fatty acid, initial tests have shown that Omega-3 has superior effects on behavior and mental aptitude of children suffering from learning related conditions.
Omega-3 is still big news, making headlines as we discover quite how much we are in need of the fatty acid. Originally when humans led a nomadic and hunter-gather lifestyle omega-3 intakes were massive, with berries and fish fueling the evolving body, making us what we are today.
Nowadays, our intake of fish and shellfish is massively reduced and we don’t eat the same huge range of Omega- 3 rich berries as our ancestors did. The point raises the question of how are bodies will cope with the lack of the fatty acid. Scientists almost universally agree that our neglect of Omega-3 is a very bad thing, one that is having serious impacts on ourselves and our children.
It is important to point out that many of the believed byproducts of an Omega-3 enriched diet are still in clinical trials. As such, we must still question the claims that manufacturers cite in regards to their products. Omega-3 is a vital and sadly absent part of our diets and significantly aids the human body’s healthy upkeep, but to include a negligible amount as an ingredient to merely ride the popular wave may be irresponsible, and lead to further consumer confusion.
The fact that we cannot produce the nutrient within our own body means that we need to gain it from outside sources. In the past this was primarily done via oily fish, however the acceptance of fish as a meal by children has diminished, leaving a gap in their diets as to where best to get the essential nutrients that they need.
Supplements are a good means of getting the nutrient back into children’s diets, but are certainly not the only answer. Scientists argue that proper, healthy food will provide all of the Omega-3’s and other nutrients that the body needs, supplements are simply a stop-gap solution which will probably not address the problem in the long term.
Research has also shown that Omega-3 is genuinely essential for keeping the human brain is good working order, especially considering that it is around 80% fat. Helping the development of the brain and its day-to-day functions are two proven benefits of a healthy intake of Omega-3. However, there are two types of Omega-3 with one having a significantly improved effect on the human body. Omega-3 synthesized in plants such as flax are much less effective than Omega-3 that naturallly occurs in fish. This is the primary cause of concern for consumers. There is some concern over labeling issues in regards to this, for example a product stating it is healthy purely because it contains Omega-3 might not necessarily be as good as it suggests, due to the type of fatty acid used.
Whilst the plant based Omega-3 is still good for you, it certainly is not as effective at supporting the body as its fish oil counterpart. To-date, there are no labeling requirements to say which source of Omega-3 is found in products. However, this is a minor criticism as getting more Omega-3 into the diet is beneficial in any shape or form. The only quibble can be in the its effectiveness in the overall view of personal health.
Source and further information: www.fabresearch.com.
