Algae-based Omega-3 Supplements for Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant (or trying to get pregnant!), then you know that your body is going through some serious changes. Among other things, your need for Omega 3 fatty acids skyrockets! During pregnancy, the demands for long chain OMEGA 3 DHA are at their highest, with the baby’s brain and nervous system creating 250,000 new brain cells every minute, the quality of which are entirely dependent on the quality of fats consumed by the mother. The immune system of the mother and baby relies on omega-3 polyunsaturated fats and during the third trimester, visual and neural function development are also dependent on these healthy fats.
Alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA) is the most basic of the OMEGA 3’s and is generally found in plant-based foods such as flax seed, olives, walnuts and vegetables. Dietitions advise that Omega 3 (ALA) is the most essential, yet new research suggests it’s just not enough to support the mother and baby through the demands of pregnancy.
The body has to convert this ALA into the longer chain fatty acids of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in order for it to be used in the brain, eyes and cardiovascular system. This is a very inefficient process, with research indicating that as little as 5% of ALA may be converted into EPA, and even less (0.5%) being converted into DHA(docosahexaenoic acid). During pregnancy though, the placenta can convert up to 30% of ALA to DHA yet this is still not enough to rely on for the baby’s development or for the mother herself.
Premature Birth
The development of food production technology has caused a change in the omega-3 content found within our foods. In earlier times, we were able to consume DHA and other essential fatty acids from animal sources such as eggs, meat and dairy but today’s modern diet relies heavily upon grains which lower health omega-3 fatty acid levels in the foods on our supermarket shelves. Today’s modern diet contains 40 times more OMEGA 6 than OMEGA 3, with vegetable oils adding to the problem.
Excessivly high levels of Omega 6 in the system give rise to tiny signalling molecules called prostaglandins, which among other things trigger contractions and sometimes premature childbirth.
How to Avoid Post Natal Depression
A mother’s body genetically requires a regular supply of fatty acids, especially DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). If the expecting mother’s diet does not contain enough DHA to sustain her baby’s rapid development, it is removed from her own brain and nervous system. This has been linked to depressive symptoms and even post-natal depression in some cases. Many women find themselves feeling down, tearful, or tense during the first week after delivery. The term “baby blues” refers to this phenomenon, which is prevalent enough that it is considered typical, yet is unheard of in indigenous cultures with fish-based diets.
As far back as 1985, Danish investigators found that women living on the Faeroe Islands delivered babies that were 194 grams (almost half a pound) heavier and whose mothers’ pregnancy lengths were longer than babies born in Denmark. The Faroese diet had substantially more omega-3 fatty acids and less omega-6 fatty acids than a Danish diet. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 was significantly higher in the Faroese women than in Danish pregnant women. From this study, the authors said that a Danish woman who adjusted her diet would expect to increase the length of her pregnancy by around two weeks.
Recently a team of researchers have been looking at long-chain omega-3 fats and their role in healthy birth weight and reducing the risk of premature births, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in fatty fish and algae oil. They found that for pregnant women, increasing the daily intake of long-chain omega-3s DHA and EPA lowers the risk of having a premature baby by as much as 42%. By increasing omega-3 fatty acids, your body will also have an easier time producing milk for your newborn.
Seafood consumption
Eating oily fish, high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, or anchovies more than once a week is now not recommended by the British Nutrition Foundation due to mercury toxicity, PCBs, and other harmful toxins that cold water fish contain. Plastics have been found at every level of the ocean food chain and consuming fish from marine sources during pregnancy is too much of a risk for you and your unborn baby. Fish do not produce Omega 3s they get theirs from algae where it is passed up the food chain from one fish to another all the while bio-accumulating industrial chemicals. For the healthiest long-chain omega 3s choose an algae supplement that’s grown in controlled conditions, for peace of mind for you and your baby.
Fish Oil Supplements
Cod liver oil, krill oil, fish oils, and eating fish were perfect supplements for pregnant and lactating women as they are high in omega-3 fatty acids. New research suggests that any dietary fish sources can contain methyl mercury which is toxic to the baby’s brain and central nervous system.
Over the last ten years, the ocean has become more and more polluted with industrial chemicals that cannot be fully removed from fish oil supplements making them potentially harmful to the unborn baby.
Other dietary supplements
Olive oil and flaxseed oil and chia seeds are a great way to increase ALA but to achieve adequate DHA supplementation algae oil added to a healthy diet is the most effective way to increase polyunsaturated fatty acids. Algae has all of the essential nutrients that are found in fatty fish and are the best choice for you and your unborn baby and the planet!
Conclusion
In today’s world obtaining the amounts of OMEGA 3’s we need over our lifetime has become almost impossible to meet in a sustainable healthy way, without overloading ourselves with modern environmental toxins. Omega-3s are essential for a healthy pregnancy, but it can be difficult to get enough from diet alone. DHA supplements are a great way to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need, but be sure to choose a high-quality product from a trusted source. Algae omega 3s are a great option as they provide all the benefits of fish without the risks of fishy taste!