The Importance of Omega 3 Oils For New Mothers
Michael Byrd
March 09, 2007
What's so special about omega 3 fatty acids and why are they so important to pregnant and nursing women?
Numerous studies have shown that the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, found only in salmon and other fatty fish, are vital for the optimum development of a growing baby.
For example, recent research by Dr. Joseph Hibbeln of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal, resulted in findings that surprised even the researchers.
The study tracked the children of over 8,000 British women who ate more than 12 ounces of omega 3 seafood a week. When compared to children of mothers who got lower amounts, the higher seafood children scored higher on toddler developmental tests, behavior tests at the age of 7 and had higher verbal IQ scores at age 8.
Besides a better brain, it's also been proven by research that women who eat omega 3 fatty fish on a regular basis increase their chances of having a full term, normal birth weight baby with better vision and a well developed central nervous system.
After being born, the baby's need for DHA and EPA continues. These omega 3 fatty acids are responsible for the early and ongoing development of a child's brain, retina and nervous system.
During the first year of life, a baby's brain triples in size. And 70% of this rapidly growing brain is made up of DHA and EPA. If the baby isn't getting it from Mom, they're probably not getting enough.
So Is Mom Getting Enough?
In the United States, 85% of women are deficient in these vital omega 3 fish oils. And, nearly 20% are so low that DHA and EPA can't be detected in their blood at all.
If Mom is deficient in the omega 3s, her baby isn't getting the brain food it needs to be healthy and smart.
Pregnant women in the U.S. are told it's important to eat a balanced diet and take prenatal vitamins, containing adequate amounts of iron, calcium and folic acid. But that's about it.
Very few expectant and nursing mothers are ever told by their doctor about the omega 3 fatty acid benefits while they're pregnant. Why this is so, I have no idea. But I suspect that it'll change in the near future.
So what should a woman do? According to the recommendation of the National Institutes of Health, she should be supplementing with at least 650mg of omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil every day. That's the only way her baby can get these essential oils.
And, that's why so many pregnant and nursing mothers who want to have healthier, happier, smarter babies take personal responsibility for getting omega 3s in their diet.
Fish and fish oil are healthy foods. Even mercury contamination isn't a threat if you avoid eating large predator fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and white snapper (tilefish).
In fact, a recent Harvard School of Public Health research study concluded that fish oil health benefits are so vitally important, especially for pregnant and nursing mothers, that the omega 3 benefits far outweigh any threat of mercury toxicity.
So, if you’re pregnant or nursing and want a smart, healthy baby, eat more fatty fish on a regular basis and take a high quality fish oil supplement to make sure you're getting enough.
If you're interested in more information on pregnancy and fertility, you'll find it at Omega 3 Supplements During Pregnancy.
Numerous studies have shown that the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, found only in salmon and other fatty fish, are vital for the optimum development of a growing baby.
For example, recent research by Dr. Joseph Hibbeln of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal, resulted in findings that surprised even the researchers.
The study tracked the children of over 8,000 British women who ate more than 12 ounces of omega 3 seafood a week. When compared to children of mothers who got lower amounts, the higher seafood children scored higher on toddler developmental tests, behavior tests at the age of 7 and had higher verbal IQ scores at age 8.
Besides a better brain, it's also been proven by research that women who eat omega 3 fatty fish on a regular basis increase their chances of having a full term, normal birth weight baby with better vision and a well developed central nervous system.
After being born, the baby's need for DHA and EPA continues. These omega 3 fatty acids are responsible for the early and ongoing development of a child's brain, retina and nervous system.
During the first year of life, a baby's brain triples in size. And 70% of this rapidly growing brain is made up of DHA and EPA. If the baby isn't getting it from Mom, they're probably not getting enough.
So Is Mom Getting Enough?
In the United States, 85% of women are deficient in these vital omega 3 fish oils. And, nearly 20% are so low that DHA and EPA can't be detected in their blood at all.
If Mom is deficient in the omega 3s, her baby isn't getting the brain food it needs to be healthy and smart.
Pregnant women in the U.S. are told it's important to eat a balanced diet and take prenatal vitamins, containing adequate amounts of iron, calcium and folic acid. But that's about it.
Very few expectant and nursing mothers are ever told by their doctor about the omega 3 fatty acid benefits while they're pregnant. Why this is so, I have no idea. But I suspect that it'll change in the near future.
So what should a woman do? According to the recommendation of the National Institutes of Health, she should be supplementing with at least 650mg of omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil every day. That's the only way her baby can get these essential oils.
And, that's why so many pregnant and nursing mothers who want to have healthier, happier, smarter babies take personal responsibility for getting omega 3s in their diet.
Fish and fish oil are healthy foods. Even mercury contamination isn't a threat if you avoid eating large predator fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and white snapper (tilefish).
In fact, a recent Harvard School of Public Health research study concluded that fish oil health benefits are so vitally important, especially for pregnant and nursing mothers, that the omega 3 benefits far outweigh any threat of mercury toxicity.
So, if you’re pregnant or nursing and want a smart, healthy baby, eat more fatty fish on a regular basis and take a high quality fish oil supplement to make sure you're getting enough.
If you're interested in more information on pregnancy and fertility, you'll find it at Omega 3 Supplements During Pregnancy.
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