Pregnancy Diet Myths Debunked: Should Expecting Mothers Eat Fish?
Every expecting mother wants to give her unborn child the best nutrition possible and thus pregnancy diets and nutrition recommendations are followed religiously. However, some of the pregnancy diet plans that are suggested by books, magazines and friends lack in credibility and can create an unnecessary caution of particular foods. This article debunks one of the most common pregnancy diet myths to assist mothers in making the correct dietary choices, leaving more time to worry about the nursery decor and sourcing the best natural baby mattress and mobile.
Mothers Should Not Eat Fish
Many mothers do not include fish in their pregnancy diets as it is commonly believed that fish is harmful to the unborn baby. There is some truth in this pregnancy diet advice as some kinds of fish contain high levels of mercury, a metal that can be toxic to both babies and adults. For this reason it is recommended that pregnant women eat only two average sized servings of fish per week in their pregnancy diet meal plan. Canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollack and catfish are most suitable. Fish with high mercury content should be avoided, such as shark, swordfish and king mackerel.
In general, fish is an important element of any pregnancy diet plan as it contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for the development of the unborn child. In fact, a study of 12,000 children whose mothers had included fish in their pregnancy diet menu, where found to have better motor coordination, communication skills and social skills. If mothers don’t enjoy eating fish, other great sources include nuts, soybeans and eggs. When it comes to aspects of your pregnancy, from selecting pregnancy diet meal plans to luxury baby cots, it is always best to do your research and gain information from multiple credible sources.