DHA And Fish Oil. Breastfeeding Mothers Need More Of Both.
December 6, 2009 by Steph
Filed under Babies and Toddlers
The established benefits of DHA, an essential omega 3 fatty acid, are growing by the day. It is now firmly established that over 90 percent of us have levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids that are too low and we can improve this by daily supplementation with capsules of fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers also have powerful reasons to supplement their diet with essential fatty acids known as omega 3 fats. There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding, and one of the most important breastfeeding tips is the importance of adequate DHA in your breastmilk.
It is now known that growing fetuses have a high demand for both DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), the 2 most important of the omega 3 essential fatty acids. However once the baby is born that demand for an adequate supply of DHA and EPA does not decrease. And of course for a fetus or for a baby that supply of DHA comes from the mother, certainly in cases where the mother is breastfeeding.
There are studies now that show that breastfeeding mothers who supplement their diet with DHA have babies which, at 30 months, show higher scores on psychomotor development, have better visual development and even improve their scores on IQ assessments.
These are very powerful reasons for any mother who is breastfeeding her baby to supplement their diet with DHA found in fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers are just like the rest of us, and studies show that almost all of us have levels of DHA and EPA that are way too low.
If you have a diet rich in seafood then this may not apply to you however the studies show that almost all of us do not eat enough seafood. There are various reasons for this including that it is now well recognized that much of the fish we eat is contaminated with nasty contaminants such as mercury. And fish is also very expensive.
It is possible to get omega 3 essential fats from plant based sources but these are a different form of fatty acid and this plant-based form of Omega3 fats is not nearly as beneficial to us as the omega 3 found in fish oil.
The ideal way to get more DHA in your diet is to supplement your diet with capsules of fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers can do this safe in the knowledge that the very best fish oil capsules are contamination free, and will also find that they are much more cost-effective than eating fish.
The jury is now in on the benefits of fish oil for babies of breastfeeding mothers. Powerful reasons are established for mothers to undertake omega 3 supplementation right from conception, through pregnancy, during breastfeeding and even thereafter for their own health.
It’s important to note however that not all brands fish oil supplements are the same. You need to know how to compare fish oil capsules to find those that represent the best value and the best effectiveness.
I tell you how to do that on my website.
Related posts:
- Most Asked Questions about Fish and Mercury and Effects on Pregnancy Oregon Seafood Video 1. Just What is mercury? Mercury...
- Breastfeeding Help Breastfeeding Help Breastfeeding can be one of the most wonderful,...
- The Three Best Breastfeeding Positions The Three Best Breastfeeding Positions Because some babies like to...
