5 Reasons to Take Omega 3 Fish Oil During Pregnancy.

5 Reasons to Take Omega 3 Fish Oil During PregnancyBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Rosenbaum]Valerie Rosenbaum
To date, there have been thousands of studies concerning omega 3 and pregnancy. Omega-3's are a group of long-chained fatty acids that are an essential part of a healthy diet. Just how important they are during pregnancy is still being studied. The most recent study concerned a condition called preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a condition that is accompanied by high blood pressure and inflammation. There is some evidence that dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of developing eclampsia, which is life-threatening to both mother and child.
Over the years, researchers have looked at a number of different dietary factors that can contribute to or reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Calcium and magnesium, as well as vitamin C, D and E have all been suggested and are typically found in prenatal vitamins.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been suggested, because they are known to have a modest effect on blood pressure reduction, but primarily, the benefit is due to the anti-inflammatory activity.
Other researchers looking at omega 3 and pregnancy have seen benefits that include:
Reduced risk of premature birthReduced risk of depression during and/or after deliveryReduced risk of retinopathy of prematurityReduced risk of childhood asthma and allergiesReduced risk of attention deficit disorders
In addition to those benefits, a specific omega 3 called Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA is now considered "essential" for healthy brain and neurological development of the fetus. DHA is primarily found in fish, although the fish get it from marine micro-algae. Vegan women may choose a micro-algae supplement, rather than a fish oil supplement.
Knowing about the research concerning omega 3 and pregnancy, but aware of the risk of mercury consumption, dietary guidelines concerning fish intake have been established by some major health organizations. There are some species that should not be consumed, including most kinds of tuna, shark and king mackerel. Larger species typically have a higher mercury concentration.
The Environmental Defense Fund has created a comprehensive list of species that should be avoided and those that can be consumed occasionally or frequently. They have also evaluated many of the different supplements on the market, because taking purified fish oils or those that have been thoroughly tested for mercury and other contaminants is the best way to insure that the daily intake of DHA is at least 200mg, an amount that researchers feel is advisable.
The EDF's evaluation of supplements indicates that some manufacturers do not have high standards for purity or allowable mercury content. In a recent study concerning omega 3 and pregnancy, researchers found that it was difficult to evaluate the negative effect of fish oils contaminated with mercury in laboratory animals, because they have opposing effects.
That's not to say that you can take any fish oil supplement, without risk of mercury causing damage to the growing baby. It simply highlights the benefit of supplementation. Mercury is a potent toxin that can impair intellectual development. Fish oil may be just as potent, only in a good way.
Ask your doctor about omega 3 and pregnancy. If you decide to buy a supplement, remember to check the manufacturers standards for purity, beforehand. It's the safest choice.
Valerie Rosenbaum thinks taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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