Omega 3’s in Pregnancy, why are they vital?: Series 2
So I’ve talked all about the benefits of omega 3’s but why are they so important for pregnancy? Omega 3’s are absolutely vital in pregnancy because the foetus requires them for their development, eye function for adequate functioning of the immune system and the cardiovascular system. The brain is also made up of 60% fat therefore they are vital for the foetus’ brain development! Omega 3’s have also been found critical for foetal and infants central nervous system growth and development; for cell signalling pathways, cell division and for eicosanoids. AKA adequate omega 3’s must be ascertained during pregnancy to ensure the baby has normal nervous system functioning. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible for a woman to ascertain adequate levels of omega 3’s during pregnancy due to the limit of eating only two fish per week (this limitation is due to the content of heavy metals that are contained in fish which can negatively impact the development of the foetus). Therefore, oily fish should be chosen as first preference as they contain higher levels of omega 3’s; specifically salmon and sardines. Refer to omega 3’s series 1 for other sources of omega 3’s. Also consider seeing a naturopath to get a good quality omega 3 supplement for your pregnancy.
I hope you enjoyed this information, Stay healthy and happy, Balancedbeings x x
References Please note I have left them in link form so you can easily click and access the studies I used for this post.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621042/