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Episode 73 Content and Overview
One of the best food sources for DHA and omega 3s is fish. DHA is one type of omega 3 that is critical for the development of your baby’s brain and eyes, helps to prevent preterm labor and preeclampsia, increases birth weight, improves infant outcomes like hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and attention span, and decreases your risk for postpartum depression. In addition to omega 3s, fish are high in protein and have essential nutrients like vitamin D and selenium. Along with the benefits there are some risks to consuming fish during pregnancy like mercury content, dioxins, PCBs, and radiation. The big question is, do the benefits of eating fish during pregnancy outweigh the risks? This episode breaks explains which fish to avoid and which are considered safe during pregnancy and examines the evidence to support the risks and benefits of eating fish during pregnancy.
Included in This Episode
- Types of omega 3s
- Role of omega 3s during pregnancy
- Omega 6 fatty acids
- FDA, EPA, and ACOG recommendations on fish consumption
- Eating sushi during pregnancy
- Risks of eating fish
- Mercury
- FDA list of mercury levels in commercial fish and shellfish
- Selenium and its affect on mercury toxicity
- Study on fish and their selenium and mercury content
- Study on selenium content in seafood in Japan
- 5 Reasons Why Concerns About Mercury in Fish Are Misguided (by Chris Kresser)
- Effects of prenatal and postnatal methylmercury exposure from fish consumption on neurodevelopment
- Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood
- WHO information on dioxins and dioxin like substances
- PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
- Fish intake contaminants and human health
- Levels of n-3 fatty acids and contaminants in commonly consumed fish, shellfish, and other foods
- Radiation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration article on radiation
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution article on radiation from Fukushima
- Environmental impact of consuming fish
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
- Farm raised vs. wild
- Food and Water Watch Seafood Guide
- Reading labels
- Marine Stewardship Council
- Your Birth Plan book
- Get the weekly Pregnancy Podcast newsletter
