There are now clear benefits established of the benefits of DHA, and these extend to health benefits for a fetus or growing baby. Studies have shown that over 90 percent of us are deficient in DHA, (together with EPA), the 2 most essential fatty acids. These are found in fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant mothers have powerful reasons to supplement their diet with omega 3 supplements containing DHA and EPA. There are many benefits of breastfeeding, and one of the best breastfeeding tips for nursing mothers is to maintain the levels of DHA in her breast milk.
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.
Studies are now clearly showing the importance of adequate levels of DHA in the breastmilk of breastfeeding mothers. The studies are showing that babies of breastfeeding mothers who supplement their diet with fish oil supplements show much higher scores at 30 months of age on psychomotor development, do better in IQ assessments and have better visual development.
All of these make for powerful reasons for any mother who is breastfeeding to supplement their diet with supplements containing DHA. Breastfeeding mothers are just like the rest of us and generally have levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids that are too low.
If you have a diet rich in seafood then this may not apply to you however the studies show that almost all of us do not eat enough seafood. There are various reasons for this including that it is now well recognized that much of the fish we eat is contaminated with nasty contaminants such as mercury. And fish is also very expensive.
It is possible to get omega 3 fatty acids from plants however this is a different form of Omega3 fat and is not nearly as beneficial to health as DHA and EPA, the 2 essential fatty acids 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 with DHA. 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.
It’s important to note however that not all brands fish oil supplements are the same. You need to know how to compare fish oil capsules to find those that represent the best value and the best effectiveness.
Visit my website to find out how to make this comparison.