There is no official recommended daily allowance of omega-3 fatty acids. Most of organizations recommend a minimum of 250-500 mg combined EPA and DHA each day for healthy adults. However, higher amounts are often recommended for certain health conditions.

Children with ADHD need more DHA and EPA than other children. They may need up to 500mg to 1,000mg DHA from fish oil or cod liver oil.

Most study doses range from 200 to over 500mg EPA. Studies with EPA doses of 500mg or more seem to improve hyperactivity symptoms the most.

They are basically the same thing.

Fish oil is the oil extract from fatty fish. Cod liver oil is the oil extract from the liver of cod (cold fatty fish).

The only different is that with cod liver oil, you’ll also get vitamin A and vitamin D as well, because the body stores it’s fat-soluble vitamins in the liver. That’s why liver is a good brain food along with other organ meats discussed into the book Eat to Focus.

In general, I start most of my patients with ADHD on 500mg DHA. And many report a noticeable improvement in attention.

If your child is experiencing more emotional problems and/or anger issues, I would focus more on EPA. 

Many parents just buy the cheapest omega gummies out there. When I tell parents that their kids need to take 15-20 fish oil gummies a day of their current gummy vitamins to get the same 500mg omega-3 for better brain functions, their eyes pop wide open.  

To get 500mg DHA, with SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Gummy Vitamins & Omega 3 Fish Oil, your child will need 56 gummies a day. With OLLY Kids Super Brainy Gummy Multivitamin, your child will need 14 gummies a day.

So don’t just buy any omega-3 fish oil gummies. Be educated, so you buy the right omega-3 fish oil supplements that work. Here, I’m going to teach you how. 

To find out how much EPA and DHA are in your child’s fish oil supplement, you first look at the serving size on the top of the nutrition label, and it’ll tell you what the serving size is for the product. 

The brands that I recommend the most for fish oil are Carlson Cod Liver Oil and Nordic Naturals. 

In Carlson’s the Very Finest Fish Oil Liquid, a serving is one teaspoon or 5ml. If you scroll down the nutrition label, you’ll find that it has 4.6 grams of Norwegian Cod Liver oil, 1,600mg of omega-3 fatty acids. And within the 1,600mg omega-3 fatty acids are 500mg of DHA and 800mg EPA. Plus, some vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E. 

In the Nordic Naturals Arctic Omega Lemon Liquid, a serving is 1 teaspoon or 5ml. If you scroll down the nutrition label, you’ll find “Concentrated fish oil”, and under that, you’ll find the amount of EPA and DHA. 

In this case, for each 1 tsp or 5ml of Arctic Omega Lemon Liquid, you’ll get 745mg EPA and 500mg DHA, which is a very decent amount to start with a clean ADHD diet. 

Most kids take these with no issues. I like to get the fruity flavors and take mine mixed in smoothies. 

The best omega-3 fish oil gummy I’ve found is the Nordic Naturals DHA Gummies. Your child will need only 1-2 gummies a day. One gummy has 145mg EPA and 355mg DHA. For a 1-2-year-old, take one gummy a day. For 3-year-olds and up, take two gummies a day. 

Also, be aware of the sugar content of gummy vitamins. But these DHA Gummies are sugar-free. 

Use this link to access a list of trusted, high-quality professional omega-3 fish oil supplements recommended in this article at discounted prices.

Yes, you can.

Dr. Weil recommends eating fatty fish x2-3 times a week for general health along with a diet low in omega-6 fatty acids.

In fact, 3oz (150g) of salmon contains 3,200mg fish oil, of which 1,900mg EPA and 1,300mg DHA.

Other good fish choices are mackerel, seabass, oysters, sardines, herring, shrimp, trouts and black cod.

As is almost always the case with all nutrients, nutrients are better absorbed in its natural food form, because that’s what our body was created to process. Whole fish also provides nutrients that fish oil supplements can’t.

But keep in mind, you cannot correct a deficiency with food alone.

There are also a few consideration about getting all of your omega-3s from whole fish.

Many fish are contaminated with toxins, such as PCBs and mercury. Eating the amount of whole fish to meet the the therapeutic dose of EPA and DHA could also increase toxins intake.

While it’s always best to get your nutrients from whole foods, eating wild Alaskan salmon (the most uncontaminated variety) daily can get very expensive.

While eating fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, not everyone is a seafood fan. If eating fish is not your thing, high potency fish oil supplements are available and they’re great alternatives to eating fish every day.

Related: Omega-3 Content of Frequently Consumed Seafood

Ok, there you have it…

I hope you find this information helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below. 

Remember ADHD does not doom your child to a life of under-achievement. You know your child is bright, full of potential, and deserves the best. In fact, many of the world’s greatest discoveries and inventions were made by people with ADHD.

I helped my crazy wild child who couldn’t read or write when she was little overcome her learning difficulties, and become a merit scholarship student majoring in premed at Loyola Chicago University.

So don’t give up, everything is possible. 

If you’re just starting out on this natural ADHD treatment journey and still in the research phase, check out my new book Eat to Focus.

Inside this book, you’ll learn why your ADHD child is always hungry, why he or she seems addicted to milk and bread, the reason why most ADHD treatments do not work, and the exact four strategies I’ve used for my daughter to help her calm down to focus and finally learn normally.