The Importance of Omega 3 during Pregnancy and Nursing
The EU (European Union) recently recommended pregnant and nursing women take daily omega 3 DHA fatty acid supplements.
The EU committee of more than 50 nutritional experts from the Perinatal Lipid Nutrition Group (PeriLip) and Early Nutrition Programming (EARNEST) unanimously agreed pregnant and nursing mothers should supplement their diets with 200 mgs/day of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) - a long chain omega 3 fatty acid found primarily in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and tongol tuna/
The committee, with the support of seven international scientific organizations, made its recommendation based on two major points:
One - The committee revealed that pregnant and nursing women in western cultures don't eat sufficient amounts of fatty fish; it is generally recommended that we consume two servings omega 3 DHA for a healthy pregnancy. The committee also discovered the average DHA intake of pregnant and lactating women in the U.S was less than 18 % of the recommended daily amount and only 2 % of these women meet their daily needs of DHA. Since your baby gets its nutrition from its mother, if the mother is not getting enough of the fish oil then is the developing baby in the womb or the nursing baby is not getting enough either.
Two - Extensive research shows women with high dietary intake of omega 3 DHA have healthier pregnancies and higher weight, fully developed full term babies. The committee also found omega 3 DHA benefits extend beyond birth. Omega 3 oils, particularly DHA, also promote optimum brain and eye development and motor, thinking and language skills. They're also linked to a decreased risk of asthma, juvenile diabetes and ADD/ADHD.
Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Munich, Professor Berthold Koletxco, declared, "We reviewed a wealth of evidence on the benefits of DHA omega 3 and hope our findings will offer guidance for healthcare professionals on the optimum DHA omega 3 intake during pregnancy and nursing."
Additionally, professor Koletzco also stated, "We also hope that new and expectant mothers will be able to use this specific information to ensure that they are getting enough DHA omega 3 to gain the nutritional benefits throughout their pregnancy and during nursing."
The committee recommends the following types of fish that provide the richest source of omega 3 fish oils salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and tuna as the richest sources of omega 3 fatty acids. The committee also noted that although the daily recommend amount of omega 3 fish oil is 200 mgs/day of omega 3 DHA, ingesting additional amounts had no adverse side effects.
If you are concerned about fish toxicity researchers have found that as long as you stay away from the large predator fish such as shark and swordfish, two or three servings a week of one of the above fatty fish is perfectly safe during pregnancy. In fact, a recent study conducted at Harvard University School of Public Health revealed that any harmful effects of toxicity are far outweighed by the benefits of fish oil as much as 500 to one. In other words, toxicity is not a threat.
Consequently, if you are pregnant, nursing or even considering getting pregnant and want a healthy pregnancy and baby you owe it to yourself to start eating more fatty fish and taking omega 3 fish oil supplements ASAP. You will be glad you did and your baby will thank you.