Pregnancy Diet Containing PUFAs May Provide for a Healthier Child
If you’re an expectant mother eat plenty of fish, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed. By eating some of these items your baby may have a healthier than normal immune system and have fewer allergies. A recent French study suggests that eating foods with polyunsaturated fatty acids, known as PUFAs will give your future baby a leg up by improving the baby’s immune system. The child will have fewer allergies than other children.
The study claims that PUFAs will help a baby’s gut become more permeable. The more permeable gut will help bacteria and other substances to pass more quickly into the baby’s bloodstream where the baby’s immune system will kick in and start producing antibodies to fight the foreign substances. Basically the baby’s immune system will mature more rapidly than a woman who eats less of the fatty acids.
Nursing Mothers has reported earlier the benefits of taking fish oil supplements in the article A Healthy Pregnancy and Fish Oil. Findings in that study by Emory University claimed a 400mg daily supplement of fish oil containing Omega 3 fatty acids provided the baby with a healthier than normal childhood.
The recent study on foods that were high in PUFA’s was performed on piglets. Pigs have intestinal linings similar to humans. More studies are needed to see if the results of the study apply to humans. The researchers also plan on continuing the studies to see if PUFAs from the seeds, nuts and fish will help the immune system prevent allergies for throughout life. The study was published in the Journal of Physiology.
It should be kept in mind that certain types of fish should be eaten in moderation when pregnant because of the amount of mercury that may be present in the fish tissue. It is important to remember to consult with your doctor before taking any supplements when pregnant and that a balanced diet containing a selection of healthy foods is the most important thing for a good pregnancy diet.
