11/28/2018 / By RJ Jhonson
Pregnant women need to eat fish, according to a study conducted by researchers from Tohoku University’s School of Medicine. This is because fish provides the nutrients necessary for the healthy development of the infant’s brain.
There are different types of fatty acids in food. Some of the most important are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A balanced intake of these two fatty acids is crucial to the normal brain formation of unborn children.
Unfortunately, many people worldwide get their healthy fats from seed oils, which are rich in omega-6s. An animal study has revealed that a diet rich in omega-6 but poor in omega-3 can result in offspring with a smaller-than-normal brain and a higher tendency for abnormal behavior come adulthood. The mice exhibited higher anxiety levels than normal even when they were fed with nutritionally optimized diets as early as their lactation period.
Noriko Osumi, the leader of the research team, says the brain abnormality in the infant mice was caused by the premature aging of fetal neural stem cells. These stem cells produce brain cells. The problem was complicated by an imbalance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
The researchers concluded that increasing the intake of fish, known to be great sources of omega-3s, can be advantageous to both mothers and their unborn children.
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered healthy fats in that they raise the levels of “good” cholesterol in your body. This way, they promote your brain and heart’s optimal function and protect them from diseases. Fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, and mackerel, are some of the best sources of omega-3s. However, you can also incorporate the following foods in your diet to get more of this healthy fat:
Discover the many benefits of omega-3s at Nutrients.news.
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Tagged Under: brain development, fatty acids, fetal development, neural stem cells, omega 3, omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-6, omega-6 fatty acids, pregnancy, women's health