The Many Benefits of Fish Oil For Pregnant Women
Fish oil for pregnant women is one of the most important supplements, for both mothers-to-be and their developing babies.
Omega 3's in fish oil help to prevent the postpartum depression that can make like difficult for new mothers, and are vital to the fast-developing brain and eyes of the baby, both before and after birth.
The omega 3's are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
They are called essential fatty acids, because our bodies can't make them and they are needed for good health.
They're found in richer supply in fatty fish than any other food.
Thousands of published research studies have shown that DHA, especially, and to a lesser extent EPA, are extremely important.
DHA makes up a third of the brain, and the brain cells will take up DHA in food or supplements in preference to any other fatty acid.
A third omega 3 called DPA (for docosapentaenoic acid) is also found in fish oil.
The function of DPA isn't known.
It may have unique benefits, and some research is being done on it, but no one knows for sure.
DHA has powerful benefits for your emotional health.
It's a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient, which appears to explain many of its health benefits -- besides the fact that you and your baby both have brains that are 60 percent fat, and half of that is DHA! There appears to be a strong link between lack of omega 3's and postpartum depression -- the "baby blues" that are quite common after childbirth, that make it so hard for a new mother to enjoy her life and her baby.
As far as your baby is concerned, fish oil has been found to protect against symptoms of asthma, hay fever and allergies.
A lack of omega 3's has also been linked to Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia -- which can make it very difficult for children to learn to read.
If you plan to breast-feed your baby, you can assure the baby of lots of DHA in your breast milk by supplementing with a good omega 3 oil -- there is no effective vegetable substitute, despite what you may hear.
Three concerns about omega 3's are especially important when you consider fish oil for pregnant women -- freshness, purity and the amount of DHA you're getting for your money.
The best omega 3 oils will tell you, in plain English, how well they meet all three of these concerns.
The average omega 3 oil on the shelf at the drugstore or market will not even mention molecular distillation, the most important step in purity, simply because they are NOT molecularly distilled -- and most will contain only 12 percent DHA, not enough for best nutrition for either you or your baby.
So check the label!
Omega 3's in fish oil help to prevent the postpartum depression that can make like difficult for new mothers, and are vital to the fast-developing brain and eyes of the baby, both before and after birth.
The omega 3's are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
They are called essential fatty acids, because our bodies can't make them and they are needed for good health.
They're found in richer supply in fatty fish than any other food.
Thousands of published research studies have shown that DHA, especially, and to a lesser extent EPA, are extremely important.
DHA makes up a third of the brain, and the brain cells will take up DHA in food or supplements in preference to any other fatty acid.
A third omega 3 called DPA (for docosapentaenoic acid) is also found in fish oil.
The function of DPA isn't known.
It may have unique benefits, and some research is being done on it, but no one knows for sure.
DHA has powerful benefits for your emotional health.
It's a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient, which appears to explain many of its health benefits -- besides the fact that you and your baby both have brains that are 60 percent fat, and half of that is DHA! There appears to be a strong link between lack of omega 3's and postpartum depression -- the "baby blues" that are quite common after childbirth, that make it so hard for a new mother to enjoy her life and her baby.
As far as your baby is concerned, fish oil has been found to protect against symptoms of asthma, hay fever and allergies.
A lack of omega 3's has also been linked to Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia -- which can make it very difficult for children to learn to read.
If you plan to breast-feed your baby, you can assure the baby of lots of DHA in your breast milk by supplementing with a good omega 3 oil -- there is no effective vegetable substitute, despite what you may hear.
Three concerns about omega 3's are especially important when you consider fish oil for pregnant women -- freshness, purity and the amount of DHA you're getting for your money.
The best omega 3 oils will tell you, in plain English, how well they meet all three of these concerns.
The average omega 3 oil on the shelf at the drugstore or market will not even mention molecular distillation, the most important step in purity, simply because they are NOT molecularly distilled -- and most will contain only 12 percent DHA, not enough for best nutrition for either you or your baby.
So check the label!
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