Eating Fish During Pregnancy Might Prevent Childhood Asthma

Consuming an actual fish by the mother as compared to fish oil could actually be beneficial in protecting the offspring from asthma. The research was the work of the researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla wherein they conducted a scientific review of two studies that show that children whose mothers who consume  high-dose omega-3 fatty acids daily during their third trimester have lesser chances of having breathing problems.

Why Is Eating Fish Better

A study conducted by Richard Lockey, MD, and Chen Hsing Lin, MD shows that the same benefit can be achieved if a pregnant woman consumes 8-12 ounces of low mercury per week in accordance with the recommendation by Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

“Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and therefore are essential nutrients which are derived exclusively from marine sources,” said Lin to Science Daily. “It may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the 3rd trimester.”

“With almost equal to slightly higher cost, consuming 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish a week not only may attain the same asthma protection, but strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development,” said Lockey to the publication.