New research provides yet another reason for pregnant women to consider their DHA status during pregnancy—DHA may promote increased birth weight and longer gestational age in their babies.

The study found that mom’s who took 600 milligrams of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA during pregnancy gave birth to infants who were less likely to have very low birth weight and to be born before 34 weeks compared to mom’s who didn’t receive the supplement.

This has both clinical and cost implications as these two factors can significantly impact the overall health and development of infants and lengthen hospital stays.

DHA Function

Your body needs DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) for the proper functioning of your brain as an adult, and for the development of your nervous system and visual abilities during the first 6 months of life.

DHA Sources

Our bodies naturally produce small amounts of DHA, but we must get the amounts we need from our diet. Dietary sources of DHA include cold water fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies. Seaweed is a good vegetarian source of DHA.

Eating oily fish two to three times per week typically supplies adequate amounts of EPA and DHA for adults. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

This is where fish oil or other DHA supplements may fill dietary gaps. Supplements are also convenient for those who don’t like the taste of fish or don’t have access to high quality seafood.

For infants, breast milk from a mother who eats a healthy diet contains significant amounts of DHA. Infant formula may or may not have any DHA.

DHA for Expectant Mothers

While DHA supports both mom and babies health, children and pregnant women should avoid species of fish with the potential for the highest level of mercury contamination: king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish. They should also limit consumption of white albacore tuna to under 6 oz. per week.

High-quality fish oil supplements made by manufacturers who test for mercury and other toxins do not pose the same risk of mercury contamination.

Speak with your doctor about how you can ensure proper nutrition for yourself and your baby.

Sources:

New Hope 360

University of Maryland Medical Center

American Heart Association

The key to avoiding fussy eaters, say experts, is to start early—real early--as in the womb.

Recent studies indicate that mom’s who eat a varied diet while they are pregnant have kids that are more likely to eat a variety of foods as well—including the often shunned vegetables.

Babies are also more accepting of individual foods that their moms eat regularly while expectant and breastfeeding. A case in point, one study found that children whose mother often drank carrot juice ate twice as much carrot flavored cereal when being weaned.

An Acquired Taste

Babies are hardwired to favor foods containing sugar and salt, but have to learn to like other foods such as green vegetables.

However research shows that babies can be “primed” from a very early age to overcome some of nature’s wiring. Children get sensory information in the womb and through their mothers’ milk which translates to a quicker acceptance of fruit and vegetables when they start eating solid foods.

Still, it’s never too late to introduce new foods, even in bottle fed infants. It just requires a little more time and patience, the study said.

To demonstrate this, another test involved introducing green beans to babies over an eight day period. On the first day, they ate an average of 50 grams, but by the last day consumption increased to 80 grams—proving that persistence pays off.

Lifelong Lesson

“Vegetable and fruit consumption is linked to lower risks of obesity and certain cancers,” said senior author Julie A. Mennella, PhD. “The best predictor of how much fruits and vegetables children eat is whether they like the tastes of these foods. If we can get babies to learn to like these tastes, we can get them off to an early start of healthy eating.”

Sources:

Prepared Foods

Monell Center

Constipation affects more than half of pregnant women but most laxatives are not suitable for mom or baby. A new study of expectant mothers found probiotics may be the answer to safe, effective relief. In addition to easing constipation, the women also had less abdominal pain and other symptoms associated with irregularity.

Study Results

The research team gave 20 pregnant women with functional constipation a daily dose of a multispecies probiotic for a period of four weeks. All of the women saw improvement within two weeks, increasing the number of bowel movements per week from an average of 3 at baseline to 7 in week two.

As an added benefit the women also experienced less abdominal pain and cramping and fewer episodes of acid reflux.

This study is good news for women who may have tried traditional lifestyle remedies such as adding more fiber to their diet and getting regular exercise but still haven’t found relief.

Then there are other benefits to taking probiotics too--like supporting your immune system.

Healthy Digestion

Of course, even with a probiotic, you’ll still want to follow these tips to keep things moving:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat lots of fiber from whole grains, beans and fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
• Prenatal vitamins or supplements containing iron can add to the problem. Speak with your doctor about dividing the dose or switching to a different formula.
• Get daily exercise--even if it is low-key walking or yoga--which helps stimulate your digestive tract.

Be Wary of Laxatives

Unless your doctor recommends a laxative that is safe for pregnant women, avoid their use if you are expecting. Many laxatives are not recommended during pregnancy as they can cause uterine contractions and may also leave you dehydrated. Even taking mineral oils (which are natural laxatives) may inhibit absorption of some important nutrients during pregnancy.

Sources:

NutraIngredients

Discovery Health

Science Daily

Linus Pauling Institute

A few years ago the American Academy of Pediatrics withdrew its earlier recommendation that pregnant women should avoid nuts to lessen the risk that their child might develop nut allergies or asthma. Other medical organizations in the U.K and elsewhere have done the same. Still, many women continued to avoid nuts—just in case.

A new Danish study based on 62,000 Danish mothers may have moms-to-be munching on nuts once a again. After reviewing the mom’s nut consumption while pregnant and their kid’s medical records at 18 months and seven years old, they found no increased risk of nut allergy. Furthermore  the children of women who ate peanuts and tree nuts while pregnant were less likely to develop asthma than the kids whose moms avoided tree nuts.

Specific Findings

When calculating the risk of children developing asthma and allergies, the researchers examined peanuts and tree nuts separately. With regard to peanuts, they found:

• At the 18 month exam, children of mothers who ate peanuts were less likely to have asthma. About 15% of kids whose moms ate peanuts more than once a week, had asthma compared to more than 17% of kids whose moms never ate peanuts.
• When other asthma risk factors were taken into account, the researchers concluded that kids whose mothers ate peanuts regularly were 21% less likely to develop asthma.
• At seven years old, this same group of kids was 34% less likely to have a diagnosis of asthma than kids whose moms had abstained from peanuts.
• Peanuts appeared to have no effect on whether kids developed nasal allergies.

Among moms who consumed tree nuts, the results were somewhat different:

• Mothers who ate tree nuts more than once a week had 18-month-olds who were 25% less likely to have asthma and wheeze than the moms who avoided the nuts. However, this difference appeared to fade as the kids reached seven years old.
• Children of moms who frequently ate tree nuts were 20% less likely to have allergies whereas peanuts did not seem to provide this benefit.

While the study doesn’t prove that nuts prevent asthma and allergies as other factors may be involved, it does indicate that moms can enjoy nuts without worry. In fact, if there’s no history of food allergy, but there’s an asthma history in your family, you might want to consume peanuts, said Dr. Todd Mahr, section chair of Allergy and Immunology at the American Academy of Pediatrics.

To learn more about the health benefits of nuts, read 5 Top Healthy Nuts to Feast On.

Source:

Reuters