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The years of adolescence and young adulthood represent an important transition. During this stage of life, young people move away from doing what their parents say and toward making their own choices. One of the most important choices teens and young adults can make concerns the foods they choose to eat. Making healthy dietary choices as a young person sets the stage for healthy eating for a lifetime.
Research suggests that foods rich in Omega-3 EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) have many health benefits for teens and young adults — health benefits that will continue to reward them later in life. Therefore, Omega-3 EPA/DHA-rich foods should be included in the diet as early on as possible. Studies show that consuming foods containing Omega- 3 EPA and DHA during adolescence and young adulthood may help reduce the risk of:
- Mental health conditions, including depression, aggression, bipolar disorder, & schizophrenia
- Asthma & chronic bronchitis
- Various medical conditions prevalent in later years
Mental Health Conditions
Anyone can be overwhelmed by stress. However, young people face uniquely stressful situations. Teens commonly feel social, familial, scholastic, psychological, and hormonal stress — sometimes all at once. This stress can extend into early adulthood, as responsibilities continue to increase at school, at work, and possibly at home with the start of a new family. The mounting pressure can contribute to a variety of negative feelings and behaviors.
Depression, for example, is a common teen affliction. Schizophrenia is another mental disorder affecting teens; it usually first presents in adolescence and early adulthood. These behavioral conditions can be difficult to diagnose and treat, but fortunately, great research strides have been made in the area of mental health.
It is now known that most mental illnesses are the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. This discovery has contributed substantially to de-stigmatizing mental illness over the years. Since food choices can profoundly influence body chemistry, it’s not surprising that studies have suggested eating a healthy diet rich in Omega-3 EPA/DHA can help reduce the risk of, or symptoms associated with, mental illness. Several clinical trials, for example, have shown successful results in using Omega-3 (primarily EPA) to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Research also indicates that teenagers and young adults consuming diets rich in Omega-3 EPA and DHA have fewer behavioral problems, including aggression, than those eating a standard Western diet. It’s therefore important that young people ensure they’re consuming adequate levels of Omega-3 EPA and DHA every day.
Asthma & Chronic Bronchitis
Research shows that teens who eat more fish-source Omega-3 EPA/DHA, along with their fruits and vegetables, have fewer symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis, and stronger breathing ability, than those who don’t eat fish. This is probably due to the fact that Omega-3, particularly EPA, are anti-inflammatory in nature.
Medical Conditions More Prevalent in Later YearsResearch has linked a diet rich in Omega-3 EPA and DHA to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other inflammatory diseases. Although these diseases can occur at any stage of life, they typically affect individuals in their middle age or senior years. However, it’s worth noting that an increasing number of teenagers are presenting with early signs of cardiovascular disease. Young adults can be pro-active in reducing their risk of these diseases by consuming adequate levels of Omega-3 EPA and DHA through the diet. Even for those who have already experienced the onset of these diseases, research shows that eating a healthy diet rich in Omega-3 EPA/DHA can help reduce their impact. Specifically, studies show that Omega-3 EPA and DHA may reduce the risk of:
- Coronary heart disease and stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other conditions of mental deterioration
- Other inflammatory and auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
MEG-3® as Your Source of Omega-3 EPA and DHAIncreasingly, doctors, nutritionists and other health professionals agree that teens and young adults should eat foods rich in Omega-3 EPA and DHA. However, if you’re not sure that your teens are consuming enough of these two essential nutrients, MEG-3® can help balance their diet in a convenient and worry-free way. Available as a dietary supplement, and as a healthy food ingredient, MEG-3® provides you with Omega-3 EPA/DHA that conforms to worldwide quality and purity standards. Along with a well-balanced diet, supplements or foods that contain MEG-3® ensure that you and your family are getting adequate amounts of these two essential nutrients.
References:1. Harel Z, Riggs S, Vaz R, White L, Menzies G. “Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adolescents: knowledge and consumption.” The Journal of Adolescent Health 28, no., 1 (January 2001): 10-5.
2. Iribarren C, Markovitz JH, Jacobs DR Jr, Schreiner PJ, Daviglus M, Hibbeln JR. “Dietary intake of n-3, n-6 fatty acids and fish: relationship with hostility in young adults: the CARDIA study.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 58, no., 1 (January 2004): 24-31.
3. Kriketos A. “Role of weight loss and polyunsaturated fatty acids in improving metabolic fitness in moderately obese, moderately hypertensive subjects.” Journal of Hypertension 19, no., 10 (October 2001): 1745-54.
Mental Health Conditions1. Peet, et al. Two double-blind placebo-controlled pilot studies of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2001; 49(3):243–251.
2. Peet, Horrobin, et al. A dose-ranging study of the effects of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate in patients with ongoing depression despite apparently adequate treatment with standard drugs. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2002; 59:913-919.
3. Peet, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Drugs. 2005; 65(8):1051-9.
4. Nemets, et al. Addition of omega-3 fatty acid to maintenance medication treatment for recurrent unipolar depressive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2002; 159(3):477-
5. Su, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2003; 13(4):267-71.
6. Stoll et al. Omega-3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56 (5) 507-12.
7. Frangou, et al. Efficacy of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid in bipolar depression: randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2006; 188:46-50
8. Zanarini, et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Treatment of Women With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2003; 160:167–16
Asthma & Chronic Bronchitis1. Burns, et al. Low dietary nutrient intakes and respiratory health in adolescents. Chest. 2007; 132:238-245.
Medical Conditions More Prevalent in Later Years1. Yokoyama, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): a randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. The Lancet. 2007; 369:1090-98.
2. Matsuzaki, et al. Effectiveness of Eicosapentanoic Acid for Preventing Coronary Artery Disease: Secondary Prevention Strata. Circulation. 2006; 114:II_65.0
3. Olsen, et al. Randomised controlled trial of effect of fish oil supplementation on pregnancy duration. The Lancet. 1992; 339:1003-1007.
4. Marchioli, et al. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction - time-course analysis of the results of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardico (GISSI) - Prevenzione. Circulation 2002 Apr 23; 105(16):1897-903.
5. Albert, et al. Blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden death. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346(15):1113-18.
6. Gelder, et al. Fish consumption, n-3 fatty acids, and subsequent 5-y cognitive decline in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007; 85:1142-7.
7. James, et al. Dietary n-3 fatty acids and therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1997; 27:85-97.
8. Volker, et al. Efficacy of fish oil concentrate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2000; 27:2343-2346.
9. Cleland, et al. The role of fish oils in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs. 2003; 63:845-853.
10. Simopoulos AP. Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002; 21(6):495-505.
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What Is Omega-3
Health Benefits
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Health Benefits Overview
More than 8,000 studies published over the past 35 years have consistently shown that Omega-3 EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), are important to your health throughout every stage of your life. Omega-3 EPA and DHA have complementary roles in human health: DHA plays a structural role as a component of cell membranes, while EPA ...
Omega-3 Overview
Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish and certain plants that provide important health benefits. In fact, Omega-3 fatty acids are just as important to your health as vitamins, playing a crucial role in cardiovascular health and brain function, as well as normal growth and development. For infants, seniors, and ...
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