When youre pregnant, fish is one of the smartest food choices you can, literally. A healthy type of omega-3 fat found in seafood, called DHA, is needed for the best possible development of your baby’s brain. Need more bang for your bite? Low-fat, high-protein fish is also good for mom’s brain, heart and weight.
Pregnant women are nowhere close to eating as much seafood as they should.Why?Maybe you came across outdated advice on the internet. Maybe something in the news has you confused.But when you turn to the experts, the advice is really simple and clear.
- Eat at least 8 and up to 12 ounces 2-3 servings of seafood per week during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- When you eat variety of fish it helps boost your babys brain development. And when you dont eat fish your baby might miss out on this brain boost.
- Eat a variety of cooked seafood. Up to half 6 ounces of the seafood you eat each week can be white (albacore) tuna.
- Do not eat four exotic species of fish: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.
For tips on how to eat plenty of seafood during pregnancy and breastfeeding, check out the Seafood Lovers Guide to Eating During Pregnancy.
Evolution of Seafood Advice for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
The more doctors and dietitians learn about the health effects of eating seafood, the more they are focusing on the risks of not eating enough fish. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO) are among the leading health groups that recommend pregnant women eat plenty of seafood to boost their babys brain development. See the following timeline to make sure you are following the newest advice about eating seafood during pregnancy and breastfeeding:
