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Mothers to be and Healthy Fat

Published January 13th, 2014 in HN4U Blog, Just for Women

In Norway and Japan baby formulas, food and prenatal vitamins are augmented with high quality Fish Oils. It should be noted the average IQ of children in Japan is listed as one of the highest in the world currently. Norway like other Scandinavian nations incorporates Omega 3 supplementation for the populace as a whole to reduce depression, and heart disease.

While looking at research studies for new mothers, I found no shortage of research to support healthy fats in the diet. Diet During Pregnancy and Early Life May Affect Children’s Behavior and Intelligence.

Science Daily Sep. 13, 2013 — The statement “you are what you eat” is significant for the development of optimum mental performance in children as evidence is accumulating to show that nutrition pre-birth and in early life “programmes” long term health, wellbeing, brain development and mental performance and that certain nutrients are important to this process.

Researchers from the NUTRIMENTHE project have addressed this in a five-year study involving hundreds of European families with young children. Researchers looked at the effect of, B-vitamins, folic acid, breast milk versus formula milk, iron, iodine and omega-3 fatty acids, on the cognitive, emotional and behavioral development of children from before birth to age nine.

The study has found that folic acid, which is recommended in some European countries, to be taken by women during the first three months of pregnancy, can reduce the likelihood of behavioural problems during early childhood. Eating oily fish is also very beneficial, not only for the omega-3 fatty acids they which are ‘building blocks’ for brain cells, but also for the iodine content which has a positive effect on reading ability in children when measured at age nine.

Aug. 13, 2013 scientists at the University of Kansas found infants who were fed formula enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) from birth to 12 months scored significantly better than a control group on several measures of intelligence conducted between the ages of three to six years.

Specifically, the children showed accelerated development on detailed tasks involving pattern discrimination, rule-learning and inhibition between the ages of three to five years of age as well as better performance on two widely-used standardized tests of intelligence: the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at age five and the Weschler Primary Preschool Scales of Intelligence at age six.

Now why would we want to spend tax money on poor quality foods in the WIC program? Isn’t this an area deserving of the highest quality foods in order to reduce childhood disorders and declining IQ’s? As a child in Eastern Oregon, our meals contained brain-building fats found in organ meat, butter, raw milk and free range meats and eggs…it was farm food, grown locally because the grocery stores were too far away, to go to more than once a month. Many families in Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Utah and Northern California continue to live in remote areas. However, with modern foods lasting forever on the pantry shelves, even these children are losing their wholesome diet edge.

Has your doctor shared this information with you…it’s ok they may not have seen it and you can share it with them. Four years ago the following study was reported on Science Daily titled: Breakthrough In Treating Premature Babies: Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplement Jan. 14, 2009 — Adelaide, Australian researchers have made a world breakthrough in treating premature babies at risk of developmental disorders.

A six-year study led by Dr Maria Makrides from the Women’s & Children’s Health Research Institute and Professor Bob Gibson from the University of Adelaide has demonstrated high doses of fatty acids administered to pre-term infants via their mother’s breast milk or infant formula can help their mental development.

Researchers found a major lipid in the brain – the omega-3 fatty acid known as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – is not developed sufficiently in babies born before 33 weeks’ gestation, leading to possible impaired mental development. To counter this, increased doses of DHA (1000mg per day) were administered to lactating mothers with pre-term infants, in the form of tuna oil capsules. If required, infants were given supplementary formula with matching DHA levels.

Of 657 premature babies tested in a trial involving five Australian hospitals, about 50% fewer infants on high-DHA diets had significantly delayed mental development compared with low DHA diets.

Premature girls in particular who were exposed to DHA-rich diets showed much better mental development than girls fed the low DHA diet.
Let’s stop the dumbing down of future generations; I will gladly support tax dollars being spent on quality fish oil supplements from American fisheries for low income family’s over new crystal and booze for the state department how about you?

To Your Good Health and New Beginnings.

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