Seafood, which includes fish and shellfish, can be a great source of protein, iron and zinc — crucial nutrients for your baby's growth and development. The omega-3 fatty acids in many fish, including docosahexaenoic acid DHA , also can promote your baby's brain development.
But some types of seafood — particularly large, predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish — can contain high levels of mercury. Although the mercury in seafood isn't a concern for most adults, special precautions apply if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
If you regularly eat fish high in mercury, the substance can accumulate in your bloodstream over time. Too much mercury in your bloodstream could damage your baby's developing brain and nervous system. That's about two to three servings. Keep in mind that researchers haven't yet determined whether supplements can promote fetal brain development.
While pregnant women can get omega-3 fatty acids from many sources, most experts recommend eating seafood for this purpose.
Though mercury can harm a developing baby's brain, eating average amounts of seafood containing low levels of mercury during pregnancy hasn't been shown to cause problems. And the omega-3 fatty acids in many types of fish can promote a baby's healthy cognitive development. As long as you avoid fish known to be high in mercury or contaminated with pollutants, seafood can be a regular part of your healthy-eating plan during pregnancy.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Anchovies and other fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel and herring, are an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Omega-3s are important for brain development in babies, and pregnant women are advised to get milligrams of DHA. Anchovies provide 1. Unlike larger fish, anchovies are a low-mercury source of this essential fatty acid.
Pregnant women are advised to get 27 milligrams of iron per day, 50 percent more than women who are not pregnant. During pregnancy, blood volume increases significantly and extra iron is needed for red blood cell production. Anchovies are a good source of iron. This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy.
Gina is the owner and founder of Pregnancy Food Checker. Pregnancy and heartburn are quite the iconic pairing. Oats are safe to eat during pregnancy, and that includes Skip to content. Covered in this Article:. Search for:. By Content. Can You Eat Kauai Chickens? Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Kylon Powell. Earn Real Cash by doing paid surveys from trusted companies.
0コメント