Fish Oil Supplements For Expectant Mothers
The benefits of fish oil, especially the omega type from cold water fish, has been well-documented to improve the overall health of people. However, women who are pregnant should talk to their doctor about the potential impacts to their unborn child and discuss whether or not taking fish oil supplements is a healthy alternative.
Pregnant women, who need the Omega 3 fatty acid, should supplement with a fish oil that does not contain any Vitamin A or D in it. Cod liver oil, and other oils made from fish livers, contain Vitamin A and D. These are NOT found in pure fish oil. The Omega 3 is certainly different than the Cod liver oil that some remember taking as children years ago.
Fish oil supplements derived from fish meat are suitable for pregnant women to take. This type of oil has even been demonstrated to have a positive impact on the health of both the fetus and the expectant mother. The oil omega 3 in particular is a good supplement to take during pregnancy.
Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely important to the development of the unborn fetus, even more so during the last three months of pregnancy. The unborn child's brain and eyes depend on this essential nutrient from the mother. While the human brain is composed of 8% of the Omega 3, it is also shown that a low intake of this during the last 3 months of pregnancy can actually lower a child's IQ, cause poor hand-eye coordination, and difficulty making friends.
One of the most popular topics in health literature today is omega 3 essential fatty acids. The body cannot make it naturally, so we must get it from our food or through dietary supplements. The important components in omega 3 fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and certain fish such as sardines, salmon, and mackerel are good sources of these important nutrients. Since these fish may also have a high concentration of heavy metals such as mercury, women should be aware of this during pregnancy.
%NL% Plants especially like flax and pumpkin seeds contain a substance named ALA, which is an omega of three fatty acids, which body is naturally unable to convert ALA in soluble and usable form meeting prescribed and recommended amount for pregnant women. To avail expecting mothers to get enough, they should be given dietary supplements of muscles of fish containing these oils.
The child is not the only one to benefit from Omega 3 during pregnancy - the oil also helps combat the depression that can often affect expectant mothers. There is no shortage of companies who produce fish oil supplements which are safe to use in pregnancy. These supplements are guaranteed not to contain fish liver oils and have also be processed so the oils are easy for the body to absorb. With so many possible advantages to be gained from taking omega 3 supplements during pregnancy, it's very wise to consider them.
While fish oil supplements are beneficial for health, during pregnancy, it's important to obtain these supplements from a safe source. Some oils from fish livers, such as cod liver, contain vitamin A, which should be avoided during pregnancy. However, supplements derived from fish flesh, especially omega 3, are not only safe, but recommended during pregnancy. Omega 3 benefits both the fetus, by providing fatty acid which is important for brain and eye development, and the mother, by assuaging depression. All these benefits mean every mother-to-be should strongly consider taking omega 3 supplements during pregnancy.
Published May 31st, 2007
