Budding Einstein?
Chew on this…

Moms have long said that fish is brain food – and there’s a reason for that. Numerous studies have shown that the DHA/EPA omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can improve focus and concentration, making it easier for kids to learn. Sounds easy enough, but until recently, Canadian parents have faced challenges in their efforts to provide this essential nutrient to their children.

According to nutrition experts, it is unrealistic for children to obtain enough omega-3 fatty acids through diet alone. Omega-3 fat is available in several foods including flaxseed oil, some cold-water fish, omega-3 eggs, and nuts and seeds. Including these foods in a child’s diet is one way for them to obtain omega-3, however, it is not enough.

“In most cases a well-balanced diet provides us with the basic materials we need for healthy growth and brain development,” says Tracy Marsden, a Calgary-based pharmacist with a specialization in natural medicine. “But that’s not the case with DHA/EPA fatty acids”.

So how do you get enough omega-3 fats into your child’s daily diet and how much omega-3 is enough? The best advice from nutrition experts - incorporating high quality fish oils in liquid or capsule form. A desire to provide parents with a solution prompted a Canadian company to develop Fish Friends - a concentrated formula created to ensure children can receive the highest quality, Health Canada approved* omega-3 supplements.

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool advocate of following the Food Guide as the preferred way to achieve optimal nutrition,” says nutrition expert Sue Spicer. “But in the case of omega-3 for kids, this is a great solution for Canadian families. And it’s an added bonus that kids will like the taste and they’re chewable.”

Creating the highest quality product possible was paramount according to Kelowna-based Nutravite Pharmaceuticals President & CEO, Farid Ibrahim. “We have always had the highest standards with our product development, but as we began to develop Fish Friends for Canadian kids, we became so aware of the need for a product that parents could feel really confident in providing for their kids. All of us want our kids to do the best they can, and we wanted to help make that happen.”
The University of Guelph has awarded Fish Friends a full 5 star rating (highest) based on their stringent tests for product purity, safety, % of heavy metals and the concentration of omega-3 DHA/EPA contained in the product compared to what the product label claims. “Receiving the 5 star rating and being the only product to receive the Health Canada approval makes us very confident about Fish Friends as the best option for Canadian parents,” said Ibrahim.

* Health Canada Natural Health Products Number 80002406.

For more information on omega-3, academic performance or for interviews with nutrition experts, please contact: Kathryn Boothby at (519) 875-2994 or by email at kmboothby@sympatico.ca

Background

Recommended Daily Omega-3 Intake

The following chart from Health Canada contains guidelines on how much fish oil your child needs daily. Depending on your child’s health, your primary healthcare practitioner may suggest a different amount: 

Fish Friends are easy to swallow orange flavoured capsules that can also be chewed.
The Health Canada Natural Health Products Number for Fish Friends is 80002406.
Fish Friends is available at Zellers, Walmart and other retailers across the country. Each 120 capsule bottle retails for approximately $14.00 (prices may vary dependent on individual retailers).