Omega-3 Fats and Pregnancy: Fish vs. Fish Oil
Filed Under Naturopathy |
Here is a quick tid-bit of nutritional info to help you plan a healthy pregnancy.
It is an absolute and undeniable fact that omega-3 fatty acids are required nutrients for a healthy pregnancy and baby. It is also a fact that the human body does not make enough omega-3 fats to meet our nutritional needs during pregnancy and therefore must be obtained from the diet.
The omega-3 fat DHA is particularly important to developing children and to pregnant and lactating women. A woman’s demand for DHA increases substantially during pregnancy and will remain low for 9–12 months after delivery unless the diet is supplemented.
Now here is the dilemma: Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have sounded the alarm regarding the potential dangers of consuming too much fish because of environmental toxins that accumulate in fish.
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, rest assured studies have compared levels of mercury and pesticides in fish versus fish oil supplements and concluded fish oil provide the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without the risk of toxicity. (1,2)
International experts agree that a minimum of 300 mg of DHA is necessary to meet the needs of pregnant and lactating women. So if you are avoiding fish because of fear of environmental contaminants, remember you may be doing your baby more harm than good. Add a high-quality fish oil supplement to your daily habits and you can feel assured that you are supplying your offspring with the nutrients they need without the chance of exposing them to unnecessary toxins.
Douglas “Duffy” MacKay, ND
1. Melanson SF, et al. Measurement of organochlorines in commercial over-the-counter fish oil preparations: implications for dietary and therapeutic recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids and a review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:74-77.
2. Foran SE, et al. Measurement of mercury levels in concentrated over-the-counter fish oil preparations: is fish oil healthier than fish? Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003;127:1603-1605.
