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Pregnant Moms Are
Healthier When They Eat Fish!
by Jodie Lynn
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Moms who
ate more seafood while pregnant can expect to have children who are not only
smarter, but also surpass their peers of moms who ate
less or none.
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In a new study, by Dr. Joseph
Hibbeln, a researcher at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, who led a
research of more than 8,000 moms, found that seafood is a key source of omega-3
fatty acids, which is important for the development of the fetal brain.
This is amazing information, which is in direct conflict to the 2004 U.S.
Government recommendation that basically says that due to the level of mercury
found in fish and seafood:
A. women who are pregnant should limit the intake of seafood and fish, which
has a toxin that can harm the nervous system of developing fetuses.
B. eat none of the fish that contains high levels of mercury like tilefish,
swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and no more than 6 ounces a week of albacore
tuna.
The new study, sure to be quite conversational, revealed that avoiding mercury
did not offer any protection and may actually be harming the developing babies
by depriving them of essential nutrients needed in developmental and
neurological development.
Moms who ate at fish in two average meals that had more than the normal
recommendation of 12 ounces each, gave birth to children who surprisedly showed
more advanced fine motor, communication and social skills as a toddler, were
better behaved at the age of seven and had higher IQ scores at the age of eight
in verbal skills.
What Does All of This Mean?
While mercury is still a heightened concern for pregnant moms, the new study is
far too positive to overlook. Hopefully, it will motivate the government into a
plan of action to keep pollutants out of seafood.
WHY?
Fish living in waters contaminated with mercury, due to industrial pollution,
have a build-up of the chemical and cause developmental and neurological
problems in developing babies.
Perhaps by implementing new laws and guidelines on coal-burning power plants,
making sure that our seafood supply is clean, it will produce fish and other
seafood that are not overly contaminated with various chemicals, including
mercury, that would prove to be detrimental to developing fetuses.
If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, what should you do?
While your OB/GYN may not have news on the latest information, he or she will
soon.
Each mom wants her baby to get off to the best start possible and if we can
boost their brain power while still developing in the womb, wouldn't that be
amazing! Talk with your doctor about the newly released benefits and follow
through on the specific advice for your individual circumstances.
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©2006
Jodie Lynn
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated
family/health columnist and radio personality. Her syndicated column
Parent to Parent (www.ParentToParent.com)
has been successful for over 10 years and appears in newspapers,
magazines, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular
contributor to several sites including eDiets.com, KeepKidsHealthy.com,
ClubMom.com, BabyUniverse.com, MainStreetMom.com and
MommiesMagazine.com.
Lynn
has written four books and contributed to three others, one
of which was on Oprah and has appeared on NBC in a three month
parenting segment. Her latest books are
Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and
Surviving It All! (June 2006) and
Syndication Secrets - What No One Will Tell You! (March
2006). Please see our site for details on her new radio talk
show, Inside Parenting Success!
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