Eating Fabulous

Omega-3 Fatty Acid (DHA) Boosts An Infant’s Cognitive And Motor Development

by ruth on April 18th, 2008

If you’re pregnant, you should already know how important it is to include fatty fish in your diet. Here’s another report reinforcing that: Omega-3 Intake During Last Months Of Pregnancy Boosts An Infant’s Cognitive And Motor Development.

Apparently, babies’ visual acuity as well as their cognitive and motor development were closely linked to DHA concentration in the umbilical cord blood at the time of their birth. This emphasizes how important a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids is, particularly during the last trimester when the fetus undergoes crucial retinal and brain development.

“A diet rich in omega-3s during pregnancy can’t be expected to solve everything, but our results show that such a diet has positive effects on a child’s sensory, cognitive, and motor development. Benefits from eating fish with low contaminant levels and high omega-3 contents, such as trout, salmon, and sardines, far outweigh potential risks even during pregnancy,” conclude the researchers.

Don’t know which fish is safe to eat? Read my previous entry on this. Don’t like fish? Fish oil supplements are just as good.

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POSTED IN: ~Dietary Supplements, ~Fish and Seafoods, ~Mental Health, ~Vision and Eye Health