A fish oil capsule a day during pregnancy and the initial months of breastfeeding may lower the risk of the baby developing food allergy and eczema, a research by Imperial College London suggests.1
It is found that daily intake of fish oil has decreased a child’s risk of having egg allergy by 30%. Risk of the child developing eczema is also 22% lower. Fish oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health and growth.2
Choosing the right fish oil
Mothers-to-be, however, should be cautious when choosing fish oil supplements. Those made from the body of fish are fine for expectant mothers to consume, while those made from fish liver are not. They contain a form of Vitamin A (retinol) that can be dangerous to the baby.3
Putting our children’s health first
Meanwhile, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends expectant mothers to eat fish for its wide range of vitamins and minerals, instead of turning to supplements. Furthermore, the NHS clarifies that fish in general, oily or not, is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.4 So pregnant ladies have no reason to be picky about the types of fish they consume.
Sources
- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43228242. Viewed on 21 July 2018.
- http://www.who.int/elena/titles/bbc/fish_oil_pregnancy/en/. Viewed on 21 July 2018.
- https://www.babycenter.com.au/x541094/is-it-safe-to-take-fish-oil-supplements-during-pregnancy. Viewed on 21 July 2018.
- https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/should-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-women-avoid-some-types-of-fish/. Viewed on 21 July 2018.
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