Fat Loss 4 Idiots Secret

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Importance of Omega 3 during Pregnancy and Nursing

By Michael Byrd

It has recently been recommended by the EU (European Union) that women who are pregnant and nursing should take daily omega 3 DHA fatty acid supplements.

The EU, is made up of more than 50 nutritional experts from the Perinatal Lipid Nutrition Group (PeriLip) and Early Nutrition Programming (EARNEST) and they have unanimously agreed that women who are pregnant and/or are nursing need to take at least 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 found most western mothers did not eat enough fatty fish (at least two servings a week) to supply the minimum necessary omega 3 DHA for a healthy pregnancy. The average DHA intake of pregnant and lactating women in the U.S is less than 18 % of the recommended daily amount and only 2 % of these women meet their daily needs of DHA. And, you better believe, if you're not eating enough fish to get your daily DHA dose, your baby won't 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."

EU recommends getting the majority of your omega 3 fish oil from sources like salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and tuna as they have the richest sources of omega 3 fatty acids. It is also important to note that there are no negative side effects to consuming more than the recommended amount of 3 fish oil is 200 mgs/day of omega 3 DHA.

Experts also agree that in order to avoid any issues with fish toxicity as long as pregnant and nursing women and everyone else for that matter refrain from eating large predator fish such as shark and swordfish, two or three servings a week of one of the above fatty fish is perfectly safe. Actually, Harvard University School of Public Health study recently concluded that the benefits of fish oil far outweigh any threat of toxicity by as much as 500 to one. In other words, toxicity is not a threat.

Therefore, if you are pregnant, nursing or just thinking about it and want your baby to be smart, and healthy there is no time like the present to start eating more fatty fish and taking omega 3 fish oil supplements ASAP. Your baby will thank you. - 17274

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