Fish Oil Supplements Can Help Expecting Mothers
Fish oils exept during pregnancy have long been known to be benefical to human health. During pregnancy, however its always wise to consider what health advice is best for mother and unborn baby. So in your opinion, should pregnant woman take fish oil supplements?
It is very important to note that the cod liver oil which many of us were forced to take by our parents when we were children is not the same as omega 3 fish oil. Cod liver oil and other oils made from fish livers contain Vitamins A and D, which are not found in pure fish oil. Pregnant women are much better off supplementing with fish oil that doesn't have any A or D in it.
Omega 3 is an important supplement for women to take during pregnancy, as both the mother and the child can benefit from the oil. One way to ensure enough Omega 3 is consumed is through fish oil supplements, which are made from the flesh of fish and have been proven safe for both the mother and baby.
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.
These days, health literature often writes about the essential Omega 3 fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are the beneficial elements in Omega 3. Since the human body is incapable of manufacturing Omega 3 fatty acids, it must be ingested in the form of food or diets supplements. Fish such as sardines, salmon and mackerel provides lots of Omega 3. On the other hand, because of the high concentrations of metal in fish, consuming fish during pregnancy is not without concerns.
%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.
Omega 3 benefits during pregnancy are not limited to the child - it has also been shown to alleviate depression which is all too common among mothers-to-be. There are many companies which market high quality fish oil supplements suitable for pregnant women. These are guaranteed to be free from fish liver oils and have been processed so that the oils are more easily absorbed by the body. There are so many benefits to taking omega 3 supplements during pregnancy that it would be foolish not 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
