Fish Oil: Babies Need The DHA In Fish Oil
Posted by Michael Byrd on Apr 20 2007 | Tagged as: Fish Oil
Did you know that 70% of a baby’s brain is made up of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega 3 oil found chiefly in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and herring?
Fish oil omega 3 DHA also has a direct effect on the optimum development of a baby’s vision and central nervous system. And the only way for the fetus to get the DHA it needs for optimum growth and development is through the mother’s diet.
And baby’s need for DHA doesn’t stop at birth. Optimum dietary intakes of DHA are crucial for baby’s development right through childhood. Children’s lack of DHA, for example, has linked to an increased risk of asthma, juvenile diabetes and ADD/ADHD.
But there’s a problem! Studies show that the average DHA intake of pregnant and lactating women is less than 18 % of the recommended daily amount and only 2% meet their daily needs of DHA. And if mom isn’t eating enough fish to get her daily DHA, you can bet that baby isn’t either.
According to the American Heart Association, everyone should be eating fatty fish at least twice a week to prevent heart disease and stroke. Pregnant women, since they’re eating for two, should probably be eating even more fish.
If you can’t or won’t eat fish for whatever reason, taking daily fish oil supplements containing a combined one gram of DHA and EPA (eicsapentaenoic acid) is highly recommended.
By the way, a recent Harvard study concludes that the benefits of eating fish on a regular basis greatly outweigh any perceived threat of toxins even during pregnancy. And, if you look carefully, you can find omega 3 supplements that are guaranteed to be toxic free.
Non-lactating mothers should consider squeezing fish oil into their baby’s formula. They’ll learn to like it and be on their way to be a lifetime fish eater. It will not only make them smarter, but it will also be good for their overall health.
