Health Network News

Health and Wellness Information, News and Reviews

Health Network News header image 2

Omega 3 Fats And DHA. Breastfeeding Mothers (For The Health Of Their Babies) Need More Of Both.

November 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Supplements

by Peter Bertonach

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.

A fetus, right from conception, needs plenty of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) for proper development. But once the baby is born this demand for omega 3 essential fats continues. And of course for any fetus and for any baby of a breastfeeding mother the only source of essential fats is from the mother.

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 powerful reasons for a breastfeeding mother to increase her intake of fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers, like the rest of our population, are generally deficient in the important omega 3 essential fatty acids.

This will not be the case if you have an adequate intake of seafood, however this is not generally the case in the US. Most of us eat far too little fish and seafood because it is expensive and also because it is known to be contaminated with mercury.

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 perfect way for a breastfeeding mother to increase the levels of DHA in her milk is to undertake daily omega 3 supplementation with omega 3 capsules based on fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers can do this daily and much more cost effectively than eating fish. And the best fish oil capsules available are completely free of any contamination.

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.

Remember though, not all Omega 3 capsules are the same. It is important to know how to find fish oil capsules that represent the best value and the best effectiveness.

Visit my website to find out how to compare the different Omega 3 capsules available.

About the Author:

Tags:

0 responses so far ↓

  • There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment