Everybody wants to be healthy. Some factors governing your health are beyond your control, but fortunately, a healthy diet isn’t one of them. From early youth to old age, you have the opportunity to make choices every day that support your health. One of the most important choices you can make is to consume plenty of Omega-3 EPA/DHA — which are vital to overall health and well-being. For infants, seniors, and everyone in between, the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA abound.

Pregnant and Nursing Women

Research indicates that consuming foods rich in Omega-3 EPA/DHA may help to: 

• Prevent early labor
• Reduce the risk of gestational diabetes
• Reduce the risk of preeclampsia (a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy)
• Reduce the risk of post-partum depression 
• Provide the mother with enough EPA and DHA to meet her infant’s needs through breastfeeding 
• Ensure adequate levels of Omega-3 EPA and DHA to support another healthy pregnancy

Fetuses and Infants

Research indicates that Omega-3 EPA and DHA plays many roles in supporting the health of the fetus and infant, including helping: 

• Develop a fully functional nervous system, including a healthy brain
• Develop healthy eyes and visual acuity
• Reduce the risk of allergies in at-risk infants 
• Increase birth size and weight
• Reduce the risk of cerebral palsy
• Increase IQ and ability to solve problems
• Support visual acuity
• Promote good coordination and motor skills 
• Contribute to good behavior

Toddlers and School-Age Children

Studies have shown that EPA and DHA help toddlers and school-age children: 

• Continue to develop a fully functional nervous system, including a healthy brain 
• Continue to develop healthy eyes and visual acuity
  

Additionally, these essential nutrients appear to:

• Improve behavior and learning disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
• Promote maturation of the immune system 
• Reduce inflammatory conditions such as asthma, childhood depression, & type 1 diabetes
• Support a healthy weight and metabolism

Because numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of Omega-3 EPA/DHA, many infant formulas fortified with DHA are now available. Unfortunately, getting children to eat foods rich in Omega-3 — mainly cold-water fatty fish — can be a real challenge. As any parent knows, kids can be fussy eaters and it’s not always easy to make them eat the foods they need to stay healthy. To provide toddlers and school-aged children a palatable way to consume their daily omega-3, a growing number of food manufacturers are including Omega-3 EPA and DHA in food products such as breads, yogurt, and milk. Omega-3 EPA/DHA fortified foods offer a convenient way to ensure young children receive enough Omega-3 EPA and DHA, without having to swallow capsules.

Adolescents & Young Adults

In adolescence and early adulthood, many people begin to make independent choices about how to live their lives, including what they eat. These choices can easily become habits that are hard to change later in life. Therefore, it’s important that young adults be informed about the importance of Omega-3 EPA/DHA, so they can factor foods containing these essential nutrients into their regular diets. Studies show that consuming adequate amounts of Omega-3 EPA/DHA during adolescence and young adulthood may help reduce the risk of:

• Mental health conditions, including depression, aggression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
• Asthma and chronic bronchitis
• Various medical conditions prevalent in later years, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease
  

Adults

In adulthood, most people take stock of their food choices to ensure their diets are well-balanced to support optimal health and longevity. A healthy diet can help protect against diseases that manifest later in life and present serious health risks. Research suggests it may be possible to prevent many of these future diseases and conditions by eating foods rich in EPA and DHA today. Specifically, these essential nutrients may reduce the risk of:

• Strokes, heart attacks, and other vascular diseases 
• Mental health conditions 
• Inflammatory and auto-immune diseases
  

Seniors

The key health challenge facing elderly adults is to prevent the degeneration of vital organs, such as the heart, brain, and eyes. While many people assume that degeneration is inevitable, researchers are now showing it is entirely possible to maintain a fully functioning body and mind throughout the senior years. Omega-3 EPA and DHA are important pieces of the healthy aging puzzle. Studies indicate that Omega-3 EPA and DHA may help reduce the risk of some of the diseases commonly associated with aging, including: 

• Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other conditions of mental deterioration  
• Stroke (or “brain attack”)
• Age-related macular degeneration (which causes deterioration of eyesight)

In addition, research shows these essential nutrients may improve memory, reaction time, speech, and cognition.

MEG-3® as a Rich Dietary Source of Omega-3 EPA/DHA

Reference:

1. Gibson RA, Makrides M, Colyer CG.  “Essential role of fats throughout the lifecycle: summary and recommendations.”  Medical Journal of Australia 176 (June 2002): S107-