Health & Fitness

Health Notes – My Baby & Me . . . And Omega 3!

July 1, 2008 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Imagine a nutrient so essential to your baby’s health and development that European nations have been including it in baby formula for years. In the U. S. the FDA has finally okayed its use in baby formulas.

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an Omega 3, essential fatty acid – one of the good fats. Even before your baby is born, DHA plays an important role in its development.

DHA is usually associated with the Central Nervous System. The most active period for the growth of the central nervous system is while the baby is still growing inside the mother.

This is a very critical time and a shortage of the fatty acids can cause a range of very serious problems.

During the last trimester, while the baby is developing its “finishing touches”, the brain doubles in size. Did you know that nearly 80% of the growth of the fetus is the building of the brain.

The mother’s body knows this and automatically transfers these needed nutrients to the baby . . . sometimes causing the mother to become critically short of these essential fatty acids.

After birth, the nursing mother continues to supply her baby with these important “essential fatty acids”.

However, women in the United States take in very little DHA – ranking last in the world in DHA levels. All women of child bearing age should seriously consider daily supplementation of 600-1000 mg of DHA.

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