The federal government and public health groups recommend that women consume seafood during pregnancy because of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids that are contained in the fish. The polyunsaturated oil found in fish is rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids which makes up about 40 percent of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of brain cell membranes and is transferred from the mother to the fetus at a high rate during the last trimester of pregnancy. According to Joyce A. Nettleton, D.Sc., RD, women need to know that eating canned tuna and other types of fish during pregnancy provides omega 3’s which are necessary for the development of the fetus. Also found was that omega 3 fatty acids helped to promote a healthy pregnancy.

A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health across 23 countries found that women whose breast milk was rich in omega 3’s were less likely to experience postpartum depression. Other studies confirm that the omega 3’s may prolong gestation which may reduce the incidence of premature birth.

For middle-aged and older men, and postmenopausal women, the benefits of eating fish far outweigh the risks within the established guidelines.

Although the mechanisms responsible for omega-3 fatty acids’ reduction of CVD risk are still being studied, research has shown: