Fish Oil and Pregnancy - Is it Safe For Your Baby?
If you're pregnant you know you need to pay more attention to the foods you eat to be sure your baby is getting the proper nutrition.
But when it comes to fish oil in pregnancy, you may be confused.
After all, fish is full of DHA and EPA, two important fatty acids that your child needs to have to develop cognitive functions but doesn't it also have mercury? According to the Mayo Clinic, you can eat shrimp, salmon, catfish and canned light tuna to get the nutrients you and your baby need.
They recommend staying away from large fish like swordfish, shark and king mackerel during your pregnancy.
Preliminary studies also show fish oil supplements can be good resources for the essential nutrients for your child.
The key is to make sure you use a supplement that is highly purified.
You can buy pharmaceutical grade supplements which will have gone through a high level of testing.
You'll also want to know where the fish is from.
That goes for both eating it and taking it in pill form.
Fish from heavily polluted waters are more likely to carry mercury and other toxins than fish from clean waters.
Look for wild caught fish from Alaska or the Southern Ocean.
These are cleaner waters than the heavily trafficked Atlantic.
And wild caught means they haven't been subjected to "big fishing" techniques of farm raised fish-which can mean more exposure to pesticides and antibiotics.
If they've been swimming in free in clean waters, they have less exposure to contaminants.
But purified fish oil can be your best resource.
These important omega 3 fatty acids can help your child develop motor skills up to 2 months earlier than children who don't get enough of them.
Down the road, they may even help your child focus and concentrate in school more than kids who don't get enough.
Plus, they'll improve your memory and can prevent postpartum depression.
While it's understandable to be afraid of potential mercury poisoning, if you choose a high quality fish oil supplement and/or clean fish you'll be providing both you and your baby with lots of essential nutrients.
If you're interested in learning more about fish oil and pregnancy, please visit my website, where I share what products I have personally been using daily for several years.
But when it comes to fish oil in pregnancy, you may be confused.
After all, fish is full of DHA and EPA, two important fatty acids that your child needs to have to develop cognitive functions but doesn't it also have mercury? According to the Mayo Clinic, you can eat shrimp, salmon, catfish and canned light tuna to get the nutrients you and your baby need.
They recommend staying away from large fish like swordfish, shark and king mackerel during your pregnancy.
Preliminary studies also show fish oil supplements can be good resources for the essential nutrients for your child.
The key is to make sure you use a supplement that is highly purified.
You can buy pharmaceutical grade supplements which will have gone through a high level of testing.
You'll also want to know where the fish is from.
That goes for both eating it and taking it in pill form.
Fish from heavily polluted waters are more likely to carry mercury and other toxins than fish from clean waters.
Look for wild caught fish from Alaska or the Southern Ocean.
These are cleaner waters than the heavily trafficked Atlantic.
And wild caught means they haven't been subjected to "big fishing" techniques of farm raised fish-which can mean more exposure to pesticides and antibiotics.
If they've been swimming in free in clean waters, they have less exposure to contaminants.
But purified fish oil can be your best resource.
These important omega 3 fatty acids can help your child develop motor skills up to 2 months earlier than children who don't get enough of them.
Down the road, they may even help your child focus and concentrate in school more than kids who don't get enough.
Plus, they'll improve your memory and can prevent postpartum depression.
While it's understandable to be afraid of potential mercury poisoning, if you choose a high quality fish oil supplement and/or clean fish you'll be providing both you and your baby with lots of essential nutrients.
If you're interested in learning more about fish oil and pregnancy, please visit my website, where I share what products I have personally been using daily for several years.