DHA is so expensive, should I take it or not?

Ever since my child went to school, the days of chaos have begun.

I can't remember new words, I forget the pinyin after memorizing it, I can't distinguish between b and d, t and f, I always make mistakes in math, I can't remember words again and again, etc., which makes many mothers who accompany their children to study have high blood pressure repeatedly, so the plot of mothers yelling at their children and crying will soon be staged, and it may even cause a family war.

Is it all because the children don't study seriously?

A considerable part of the reason for the children's situation is not that the parents think that they don't study seriously, are born with stupid brains, etc.

It is because parents only pay attention to whether the children's diet is nutritious and whether they finish drinking two meals a day, but they tend to ignore the supplementation of nutrients needed in other growth and development stages.

Although some parents also know that trace elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc are needed for children's growth and development, they often ignore that brain development also needs special nutrition.

And the nutrition required for brain development is completely different from that required for physical development, and it is also very easy to lack in daily diet, such as DHA and taurine.

What exactly is such a magical DHA?

DHA, commonly known as "brain gold", is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is very important to the human body and has always been a major focus of children's nutrition.

DHA is an important nutrient in the development of infant nerve cells and has a great relationship with the sensitivity of their growth.

DHA is also an important component of the brain and retina. The content in the human cerebral cortex is as high as 20%, and the largest proportion in the retina of the eye is about 50%.

At this point, the importance of DHA is self-evident. However, this nutrient that is very important for brain development relies on endogenous synthesis in the human body, and the process is quite slow and the conversion amount is very limited, so it can only be taken from food.

How do different groups of people supplement DHA?

It is recommended that infants and young children should consume 100 mg of DHA per day. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the United States recommends that the daily intake of DHA for each group is 90-160 mg per day for 4-18 years old, 160 mg per day for adults, and 200 mg per day for pregnant women.

The Nutrition Society proposes that DHA intake can be increased by eating fish 2-3 times a week, and more than 1 time is deep-sea fish; and eating 1 egg per day.

But except for coastal areas, the daily diet of inland residents can provide very little DHA. Moreover, when eating marine fish, heavy metal pollution such as lead and mercury must also be considered. So, in order not to affect the brain development of children, choosing DHA supplements is obviously more convenient, safer and healthier.

Among the types of DHA, algae oil DHA is more suitable, and unlike fish oil DHA, algae oil DHA has no fishy smell and is not transmitted through the food chain, which is safer and healthier. According to the American International Fatty Acid Research Institute, fish oil DHA contains a relatively rich EPA, and EPA may have side effects on the physical growth and development of the fetus, infants and children.

For teenagers with heavy learning tasks and frequent brain use, if the daily intake of DHA is not enough, in order to avoid a decline in learning ability, parents can take action!