There is a preconceived notion that children's learning ability is defined by their hard work. However, have you ever thought about enhancing their learning ability by boosting their physiological capabilities, such as memory enhancement through omega-3 intake?

As a Chinese saying goes, “To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools.” If you want your children to have good grades and the ability to learn more efficiently, their health should not be neglected in the plan. Let’s take a look at the essential nutrients that can help your children gain the maximum capacity for learning and be better prepared for examinations. We will discuss three main concerns memory enhancement, eye protection, and sleep with respect to nutrients that help children on their learning journey.

1. Memory can be trained and improved! 

Omega-3 does not necessarily mean fish oil. Many people confuse fish oil and omega-3, but they are not necessarily the same thing. Some people may find fish oil's odour unacceptable but still want to obtain more omega-3 in their diet. However, omega-3 is not exclusive to fish oil, it can also be found in seed oils. Seed oils are generally less allergenic and has a lower risk of extraction impurities compared to fish oil. 

2. Good eye health make kids willing to read.

More than 10 million iPads were used as a teaching apparatus in school around the world and local schools are even starting the discussion of ‘whether they should go paperless?’

More learning materials are made digital, so students are more likely to read over a screen than on physical paper. Thus, visual protection on our children’s developing eyes should be a concern in the coming years.

More screen time can cause eye strain, which could lead to low focus. It could also disrupt children’s sleeping behavior by lowering the production of melatonin, a hormone that promote sleep.

3. Stress and sleeping disorder is one of the gravest situation for students in modern society

Many parents neglect the importance of caring for their children's stress levels and sleeping behavior, which can lead to mental health problems that hinder their desire and efficiency to learn.

Apart from blue light, which can lower melatonin production, children with less outdoor activities are also at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin B6 plays a role in generating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and sufficient intake of B6 has been linked to better mood regulation in children. Therefore, sufficient intake of vitamin B6 can potentially lower anxiety and depression in students with a large study burden. Vitamin D is essential for bone development, immune function, and mental health. Children nowadays are mostly attached to the online world, which greatly reduces their desire to play under the sun. Vitamin D affects cell activity and stimulates growth, allowing for healthy active brain and emotional activity and maintaining healthy cell growth in children’s brains.

Written by Zec Yim, HKU-certified Nutritionist
Edited by Denise Tam, Holistic Nutritionist