If you have a child currently preparing for the transfer test, you may wish to consider supplementing their diet with Omega 3 oils as part of the preparation.

Research over the past two decades has repeatedly concluded that this offers benefits for learning, attention and school performance.

Omega 3 oils are a group of fatty nutrients which we now know to be beneficial to a number of aspects of our overall health.

These benefits include good brain health. Omega 3 oils are in fact essential for proper brain development and good cognitive function. Our body uses Omega 3 oils to build our brain and nerve cells, and these cells are in turn essential for learning, memory, and mood.

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that supplementing children with Omega 3 oil may dramatically improve their reading age and numeracy skills.

Omega 3 oils enable the brain to transmit its information more efficiently and effectively and this results in an improved level of focus and concentration. Their use in helping children with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD have been well documented.

However, Omega 3 oils are important for the nourishment of all children’s brains, and can provide a cognitive benefit to all children.

The most Omega-rich areas of the brain are thought to be responsible for activities such as problem learning and focused attention. This is why it makes sense that if you have a child experiencing the duress of completing continuous transfer papers, then supplementing with Omega 3 oils might actually help to lighten their burden.

They can help make learning and remembering easier. Moreover, Omega 3 oils help with mood and may help children to relax and remain stress-free.

It is of course possible and best to incorporate Omega 3-rich foods into your diet. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, herring, and sardines are the most Omega 3-abundant foods, with eggs, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts providing lesser but still decent amounts.

The problem is that most of these foods are not abundant in the typical western diet. So in spite of us knowing the importance of this particular group of nutrients on our health, they remain commonly lacking from our diet, including our children’s diet.

It is estimated that more than half of children in the UK and Ireland are deficient in Omega 3 oils.

The level of Omega 3 oils builds up quickly in the body and brain once you begin supplementing. It may however take six weeks or longer to reap the full benefits on learning, memory and concentration.

If you are starting to supplement Omega 3 oils into your child’s diet and you want faster results, give them the recommended higher loading dose for six weeks, and then reduce to the maintenance dose.

Omega 3 oils are best given to children in the morning, as their beneficial effect on mental alertness may be detrimental to their sleep.

Just as fish goes off easily, and we need to be careful with its storage and cooking, Omega 3 oils are also easily oxidized and may become rancid under the incorrect conditions. This then renders then toxic rather than beneficial.

Omega 3 oils should not be exposed to heat, intense light or prolonged air in its production.

Not all Omega 3 oil supplements are the same quality, and it may be worth remembering the old adage, especially when it comes to this particular supplement: you only get what you pay for.