Fish oil supplement in pregnancy is a health supplement that is normally given to children as it contains nutrients like omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which are good for health. It is available in the form of tablet and liquid form. You can easily buy it from your local department store or pharmacy. You may want to include fish oil supplement pills in your pregnancy budget as it can be beneficial for your pregnancy in many ways.
What Benefits Fish Oil Supplement Provides?
Fish oil supplement contains omega 3 fatty acid, which is an essential nutrient for pregnant mother and the baby. The nutrient is needed for a healthy nervous system and visual development for the foetus. It is also needed by the mother’s body to produce breast milk. The omega 3 nutrient will deplete after each pregnancy so you need to take the supplement to replenish it due to being used in the development of the baby.
However, a lot of western diets do not have sufficient omega 3 nutrients. If you take fish oil supplement, you will be able to prevent problems such as premature birth, low baby weight, preeclampsia and risk of allergies. Research also shows that it can help to maintain a higher body mass index in children from age 1 – 6 years old. All these are because the fish oil supplements help the mothers to gain higher body mass index (BMI) in lean muscles and bone mineral content. Besides, if you take a fish oil supplement, you will have a lesser chance of developing postpartum problems such as depression and postpartum mood disorders.
How to Take Fish Oil Supplement?
Not all types of fish oil supplement are suitable for pregnant women. First of all, there are 2 types of fish oil supplements. The first type is made from the fish liver like cod liver oil and the other is made from the flesh of the fish. Both contain omega 3 fatty acids which can enhance the development of the baby’s brain, eyes, and heart. It must be noted that supplement made from the fish liver is rich in retinol which is a form of vitamin A. Too much retinol can impose negative side effects on the baby.
You should consult with the pharmacist first if you have no experience in buying fish oil supplement. When shopping around, you should check the dose a tablet contains. Each tablet should contain around 300 mg of EPA and DHA to get the same amount of omega 3 fatty acids from eating two fishes weekly. The fish oil supplement must be made by a recognized manufacturer. The recognized manufacturer has the funds to carry out R&D researches to ensure they create a higher quality supplement that truly benefits the health.
If it claims it is quality, check whether it complies with standards like Norwegian Medicinal Standard, European Pharmacopeia Standard, and U.S. standard. Additionally, the fish oil supplement must not smell and taste fishy. If it does, it means that the oil is not fresh and that it has turned rancid. This can also happen with fish oils that have artificial flavor. The artificial flavor is used to hide the rancid fish oil used in the production of the supplement tablet.
What If You Don’t Want to Take Fish Oil Supplement Pills in Pregnancy?
You can include real fish in your diet if you are not sure about taking a fish oil supplement. Eating real fish will also give you all the same benefits. You will be able to derive benefits such as omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh cold water seafood like anchovies, salmon, herring, crabs, and prawns are good choices. Canned fish like sardines and tuna also contain omega 3 fatty acids but they are not as good as the fresh fish because the canning process removes some of the oils.
It is recommended that you limit yourself to 2 portions of intake of fish every week. Eating more than 2 fishes weekly can be harmful to your unborn baby’s health. This is because the fish contains harmful pollutants from the food they eat in the ocean including dioxins, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These pollutants can build up to a large amount if you exceed the recommended weekly consumption of fish over time. Supplements eliminate the worries of toxins build-ups as they are being almost removed during the manufacturing process.
What If You Don’t Want to Take Fish Oil Supplement or Eat Fish? Those who don’t want to eat fish oil or real fish can just buy algae supplement because fish derives their omega 3 fatty acids from sea algae. Some people have also resorted to including flaxseed or flaxseed oil in their diets because they contain the shorter chain of omega 3 called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is believed to be able to become converted to EPA and DHA in the body. However, research shows that the body seldom converts ALA to EPA and DHA. Even if it occurs, the conversion process will be inefficient.
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