Written By: Jessica Kurosaki, Le Puree Dietitian
Could sardines replace the need for fish oil supplements? An article has explored this idea, and when you really consider the facts- sardines, and fish are the natural source of these incredible Omega-3 fats (specifically rich in PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids in the case of sardines).
It has been well documented that Omega-3 PUFA’s play a significant role in reducing the risks of long term heart-associated diseases. This ‘cardio-protective’ fat is best when consumed in the right amounts, unprocessed and regularly.
So why can’t Australians get enough? Because fish, and sardines are tastes that have become quite challenging for some people to get used to.
A problem such as this has given rise to the fish-oil supplementation industry- based on the fact that people don’t eat enough of what Mother Nature has given us, but rather can stomach the cost of expensive supplements which can offer a similar benefit.
So, with the cost of living and mother nature in mind- the best gift we could offer our babies is exposure, variety and nutrient-dense wholefoods. Let’s save them from flushing money towards big pharmaceutical companies, when they could be eating food from the oceans instead.
Sardines also contain calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron which together, protect from oxidative stressors of long term heart-related diseases. Something to protect all babies from, we think!
Where do we source our Sardines for bubs?
The Good Fish, their sardines are caught off the coasts of Spain and Portugal in small boats and small nets. They’re hand filleted with minimal processing. These sardines we’ve chosen are juicy, sweet and mild- not overpowering like some others. These sardines are such high quality because they’re fished in waters that are the correct temperature for sardines and their natural habitats are respected. Wild caught and sustainable, this makes them an easy choice for us to include in our Catch of the Day Sardine Puree.
🚩 As a potential allergen, our Sardine Puree is included in our Allergen bundle, in an attempt to expose bubs to sardines (fish) early (and often). We highly recommend trialling this allergen with the puree offered, and if bub has no reaction, to continue on with sardines straight from the tin (bones removed or mashed all the way down to minimise choking hazard) as a finger food going forward.
Reference:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10153001/
