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Expert Q&A
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| By Karen Ansel Nutritionist | ||
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What foods are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids play a pivotal role in both neural and visual development. While fish is one of the best sources of these fats, it can also contain the chemical methylmercury, which can damage the nervous system. To prevent excess methylmercury exposure, the FDA recommends that pregnant women eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. Translation - two to three small servings.
And while fish oil supplements may sound like a good alternative, they can thin the blood and cause bleeding. Instead, choose from a variety of high omega-3 foods such as walnuts, olive and canola oils and small servings of fatty fish like tuna and salmon to be sure your baby gets plenty of these brain-boosting fats.
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