What You Need to Know About DHA
User Ratings: Not Rated
Diets that provide this vital building block for brain development are especially important for babies and toddlers.
As your baby transitions to solid foods, she'll need new sources of an important nutrient that will support her rapidly developing brain.
You may have heard a lot recently about docosahexaenoic acid-commonly known as DHA-and how it serves as a building block for brain development during the first two years.
How DHA Works Its Magic
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found naturally in most tissues throughout the body, and is especially concentrated in the eyes and brain. Nerve endings contain high amounts of DHA, suggesting that DHA plays an important role in making connections between neurons so messages can be sent to the body.
Look for foods with DHA once your baby reduces his breast milk or formula intake and begins to eat more solid foods. A variety of kid-friendly food products fortified with DHA is now available. Some examples are fortified milk, yogurt, eggs and cereals. Natural sources of DHA include organ meats such as liver and oily fish such as tuna and salmon.
Why DHA Is Important to Growing Children
Your child's body is developing at a rapid pace during the early years, so it's especially crucial to provide him with important nutrients such as DHA along with healthy food choices. It's never too early to start good eating habits!
While DHA is most often associated with eye, brain, heart and perinatal health, there is growing interest in learning how DHA levels in the body influence health outcomes in children. Examples of some specific conditions that are being studied in children include asthma, emotional well-being and motor skills.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about the benefits of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids as well as the best ways to incorporate them into your child's diet.
Getting DHA in Your Child's Diet
Tasty additions to your child's diet ensure he'll get the DHA he needs. Try these ideas:
- Gently scramble Omega-3 enriched eggs. Fluffy bits of eggs make great finger foods.
- Pour Nestlé® Juicy Juice® Brain Development 100 percent juice in his cup. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends up to 4 to 6 fluid ounces of fruit juice daily for children ages 1 to 6.
- Offer dollops of mashed, cooked chunk light tuna or salmon on a cracker.
- Spoon up Omega-3 enriched yogurts.