Omega-3 could have yet another benefit that parents will REALLY welcome

If you haven't yet gotten on board with fish oils, this could be what sways you.

Omega-3s are worth including in any diet but are especially beneficial for children. The essential fatty acids help to contribute to a child's brain development and function and to strong vision. Now new research has shown that Omega-3s could help improve a child's behaviour and might even decrease fighting between parents. In a double-blind experiment, one set of children were given Omega-3 supplements over a year while a control group of children were given placebo supplements over the same period of time. At the end of the year, researchers found that the children who had taken the Omega-3 showed decreased psychological aggression and improved behaviour. Parents reported that the improvement meant fewer arguments at home between caregivers. "Findings suggest that improving child behaviour through omega‐3 supplementation could have long‐term benefits to the family system as a whole," said study author Jill Portnoy in the journal Aggressive Behaviour. "There is more to be learned about the benefits, but if we can improve people’s brain health and behavior in the process, that’s a really big plus." Want to up your family's Omega-3 intake? Foods rich in Omega-3s include salmon and other oil fish, fresh tuna, eggs and margarine. Plant foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, flaxseed, soy beans and walnuts also contain Omega-3s but in smaller quantities.