Are you avoiding fish in pregnancy because of concerns about mercury or confusing advice? It’s time to cast a second look at seafood—especially since it contains omega-3 fatty acids including DHA known to help your baby’s brain development. In fact, federal health experts say pregnant women and children need to eat more fish—not less!
A 2014 report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that babies born to women who eat more seafood during pregnancy tend to have higher IQs—potentially 3.3 points higher—than those born to women who ate no fish.
Brain-boosting DHA is found in high amounts in oily fish like salmon, herring and sardines. That’s why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that pregnant women regularly eat at least some fish that are high in DHA.
Women and children should eat 8-12 ounces of lower-mercury fish a week, according to new FDA guidelines. That’s several 4-ounce servings a week. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also given women the thumbs-up to eat 12 ounces of lower-mercury fish while pregnant.
Many pregnant women eat less than 2 ounces of fish per week. If 12 ounces sounds like a lot, increase your fish intake over time and eat the most you can. Every little bit helps, says Philip Spiller, former director of the seafood program in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Eating 8-12 ounces weekly will help you get the most possible benefits for your baby’s brain development,” Spiller explains. “But less than 8 ounces can still be pretty good. So even if you can’t regularly eat 8-12 ounces, don’t give up on fish.”
Mercury in fish is often a concern of pregnant women. However, risk in the range of 8-12 ounces a week and even higher is very low, so you can feel confident eating the FDA-recommended amount. There are some fish to avoid during pregnancy (see below); some of these fish aren’t typically eaten frequently.
When putting fish on your pregnancy plate:
“Food is always going to be the best source for nutrients,” says Rima Kleiner, MS, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian. “But if a woman can’t eat seafood because of allergies or dietary preferences, she can talk to her provider about an omega-3 supplement. She might also consider plant-based sources, like flax seed.”
Also, “the research that has consistently shown brain-building benefits has all focused on fish consumption, which naturally includes DHA in addition to the other important nutrients in fish,” says Spiller, former director of the seafood program in FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Fish pack a boatload of nutritional benefits that are particularly important during pregnancy. Reel in these valuable nutrients in seafood:
Note: Fresh fish are delish, but frozen, canned and pouch options are healthy, too.
Did You Know…?
Fish = good mood food! “The nutrients in seafood are associated with less depression,” says Tom Brenna, PhD, a nutrition researcher and professor of Pediatrics and of Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin.
The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is crucial for baby’s eyes and brain. One way to get your fill—and give baby theirs, too—is to include some fish that are high in omega-3s in the variety of seafood you eat, like these:
Salmon
Whitefish
Anchovy
Herring
Trout, fresh and saltwater
Bass (saltwater)
Halibut
Sardines
Pollock
Oysters
Mussels
Squid
“Pregnant women should feel confident incorporating the recommended amount of seafood into their diets,” says Rima Kleiner, MS, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian (and mom of 2!). “It’s always good to eat a variety of foods, and your baby gets the brain-boosting bonus of DHA.” Rima offers up some yummy and easy recipes to help you slide seafood into your weekly rotation.
These tacos practically cook themselves. Grill the fish and the avocados; top with broccoli slaw and a light lime-yogurt sauce.
Makes 4 servings
1 lb. cod (mahi-mahi and tilapia also work well)
2½ Tbsp. olive oil, divided
2½ Tbsp. lime juice, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 large avocado, cut in half with pit removed
6 Tbsp. nonfat plain Greek yogurt
3-4 cups ready-to-eat broccoli slaw
½ jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
8 corn tortillas
Preparation
Tuna gets a Mediterranean makeover in this hearty whole-grain salad! If you don’t have farro, sub in 1½ cups cooked brown rice, barley, Israeli couscous or a different whole grain of your choice.
Makes 4-6 servings
½ cup farro, uncooked
1 (5-oz.) can tuna, drained
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ large bulb fennel, cut in half, cored and sliced very thin
2 generous handfuls baby arugula
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Zest of ½ lemon
¼ tsp. ground cumin
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation
Summer Hunt, ELS, is a writer and editorial coordinator at AWHONN in Washington, DC.
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