73: Eating Fish During Pregnancy

One of the best food sources for DHA and omega 3s is fish. DHA is one type of omega 3 that is critical for the development of your baby’s brain and eyes, helps to prevent preterm labor and preeclampsia, increases birth weight, improves infant outcomes like hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and attention span, and decreases your risk for postpartum depression. In addition to omega 3s, fish are high in protein and have essential nutrients like vitamin D and selenium. Along with the benefits there are some risks to consuming fish during pregnancy like mercury content, dioxins, PCBs, and radiation. The big question is, do the benefits of eating fish during pregnancy outweigh the risks? This episode breaks explains which fish to avoid and which are considered safe during pregnancy and examines the evidence to support the risks and benefits of eating fish during pregnancy.