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Awesome Omegas
The Importance of DHA for Mom and Baby
By Donna Smith
But Baugh warns that extreme caution must be exercised by the consumer, and education in this area is of paramount importance. "All polyunsaturated oils are extremely sensitive to destruction by atmospheric oxygen and can lead to oxidation products that can induce certain cancers in laboratory animals," he says. "Although these oils contain vitamin E as a preservative, the amount of vitamin E present when these oils are harvested and the amount left in the bottle the consumer purchases are unknown without chemical analysis." If you have questions about the fish oil you purchase, consult your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Meeting the NIH's recommendation seems simple enough: Eat more fish. "Just have frequent meals during the month that contain marine fish like tuna, swordfish, shark, salmon, sardines, cod, etc.," says Baugh. Another fish Baugh suggests is mackerel. "Mackerel is an oily fish and comes in cans. I frequently use it instead of tuna because it is cheaper, and you get more fish for your money with mackerel," he says.
Although these choices are good for many women, a warning issued in January 2001 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned pregnant women of harmful mercury levels in some ocean fish. The fish most likely to contain high amounts of mercury are tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Good choices for moms-to-be include cod, haddock, pollock, pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, flounder and sole. Pollock, haddock and cod are considered the safest choices.
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Omegas and DHA During Pregnancy by Jackie on 08/25/2009 01:36PM
I eat a lot of fish so I can get my recommended DHA while pregnant. My favorite is salmon and trout.