Why do we all need healthy fats?

I recommend putting essential fat into your baby’s every meal. It is extremely important. I always try to make good fat a part of every meal in my home.

I recommend that both babies and mum and dad take omega-3’s every day both from the animal kingdom and plant kingdom. Let me explain:

I recommend giving babies from 6 months old, coldpressed organic omega-3 oils like:

*Hempseed oil
AND
*Flaxseed oil

.. around 1-2 tsp a day. Keep it in the fridge and add it to your baby’s food just before serving.

You could also use whole flaxseeds/hempseeds that you grind and add to their/your food (like smoothies!) just before serving, 1-2 tsp.

I usually gave the omega-3 oils simply from the spoon to make my children grow used to having plain oils in their mouth.

I also soon (12 months) started giving them purified fish oil, 1-2 tsp a day (omega-3’s, animal based).

I myself swallow Krill oil (animal based omega-3) as well as hempseed or flaxseed oil most days.

Later when your baby starts having more meals you add to the variety of fat you feed your baby. I recommend:

*Organic cold pressed pumpkinseed oil (omega-6)
*Organic cold pressed olive oil (omega-9)
*Organic cold pressed coconut oil
*Organic butter
*Organic cream
*Organic Chia seeds
*Organic white tahini
*Organic almonds or almond butter (when your baby is around 8-9 months, see my what*when list.

A good idea is to keep variety in fat as in other food. Eating a varied diet means variety in nutrition.

♥ Essential good fat stabilizes our blood sugar which is very important for good health. It also helps us eat less since it satisfies us and thus keeps us from over eating, especially sweet things/simple carbohydrates. We also need good fat to be able to make use of fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E og K. We get energy & endurance through fat as well as beautiful skin and healthy joints. It lubricates us, our body and our brain (very important!) from the inside and out. Essential good fat helps us keep our ideal weight, it does not make us fat.

♥ Omega-3 deficiency has been linked to depression, cardiovascular disease, hyperactivity, ADHD (learning disabilities) eczema, arthritis, obesity etc.

♥  Flaxseed oil is especially helpful if children suffer from constipation. Best to give it in the morning with lukewarm water just before breakfast. Also infant’s or children’s acidophilus which you can buy in powder form with no taste in health food stores. Keep it in the refrigerator.

♥ Coldpressed organic pumpkinseed oil is a favorite of mine. It is high in vitamin E, especially the gamma-tocopherol form, which is a strong antioxidant and very anti-inflammatory. It’s also a source of vitamin K (which helps regulate calcium metabolism) and beta carotene (vitamin A) which is also a very potent antioxidant. Pumpkinseed oil contains linoleic acid (omega-6), oleic acid (omega-9) and stearic acid (saturated). Linoleic acid is for example needed for proper brain function, regulating metabolism, growth and development and maintaining healthy hair and skin to name just a few benefits. Oleic acid is especially good to prevent or even treat heart disease as it can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Fats from stearic acid are involved in cellular function, hormone creation, nutrient assimilation etc.

♥ I stand by it, one eats less when eating good fats and you crave sweets and unhealthy fatty foods much less if at all!

♥ More info on fatty acids in my book; What should I feed my baby?