Do you pay attention to your omega-3 intake? Did you know that it is recommended that women take 300mg/day of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) during pregnancy and that ALL adults have an intake of 650mg of omega-3 each day?
As you may recall me mentioning before, my husband and I are currently trying to get pregnant with our second child. Unfortunately, this has been more difficult than we had hoped it would be. If I had to point out one positive, it would be that I have had extra time to read up on the best ways to care for me and baby (we remain hopeful) along the way. My “research” quickly lead me to the topic of DHA and I started thinking back to my first pregnancy over five years ago. Needless to say, I have a few questions to ask my Obstetrician at our next appointment. Let me explain!
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is extremely important during pregnancy as it accumulates in the brain and retina (eye) of developing babies; it is considered key to the proper development of both. I’m uncertain of the role DHA played in my first pregnancy, I don’t recall it specifically being called out, but I plan on following up with my doctor! Don’t worry, my little one is amazingly intelligent and has beautiful eyes so I am sure all is okay. 😉
NOW, there is something new that I did learn! It is recommended that women continue to take at least 300mg of DHA per day while breastfeeding. This amount provides the same levels of DHA in breast milk that a baby would receive if fed with DHA enhanced formula milk. Unfortunately, I was not able to breastfeed when my daughter was born. I tried but it did not work out so I can’t comment about DHA and breastfeeding. What I can tell you is that nobody ever specifically mentioned DHA enhanced formula to us. There are some studies that have shown better mental performance and hand-eye co-ordination when DHA enhanced formula was given. This is something that I plan on keeping in mind for the future. If you are a new momma, do some research and check this out for yourself!
So enough about being pregnant! What about the other 99% (I totally made that number up) of the population that is not with child? DHA is important for you too! DHA is a key component for your developing brain and eyes as well. It is also a key component of the heart and cardiovascular system. DHA is actually recommended by the American Heart Association and USDA Dietary Guidelines for good cardiovascular health. As someone with heart disease on both sides of the family this is definitely noteworthy. Perhaps more importantly, as someone who was 14-years-old when their father died of a massive heart attack, this speaks volumes.
So now you are thinking … that’s great! Thanks for the information, Heather. You are awesome! (Okay, wishful thinking) … BUT there are a million products on the market so where do I even begin?
For me, the answer was easy. AVASIA. After recently being introduced to AVASIA Prenatal Vitamins, taking the next step and checking out their Prenatal DHA was a natural progression. Kind of like having a baby … sorry … that was horrible, I just couldn’t help myself!
Okay, okay, enough rambling. Let’s get down to brass tacks!
In AVASIA’s Prenatal DHA there are a total of 820mg omega-3 fatty acids. This perfectly complements the AVASIA Prenatal Multivitamin for pregnant mommas or it can be taken by anyone, any day.
AVASIA Prenatal DHA allows you to receive your recommended daily allowance (RDA) in just one soft gel. Please note that the soft gel is rather large; however, the pill is shaped for easy swallowing and has a mild lemon flavor. As a side note, anyone that has ever taken a prenatal vitamin knows that the pills are humongous; it wasn’t a shock to me that the DHA was rather large. I am pleased to announce that, as the company claims, there is no aftertaste and I did not feel as though I was burping “fish” after taking their DHA.
AVASIA Prenatal DHA does not contain:
- Artificial color, flavor, or sweetener
- Preservatives
- Sugar
- Starch
- Milk
- Lactose
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Yeast
- Sodium
AVASIA Prenatal DHA has also been purified to eliminate mercury and is made in the United States.
AVASIA Prenatal DHA may slightly lengthen the gestation time of pregnancy and may assist in mood control which reduces the risk of postpartum depression.
So what is the bottom line? For me, the long and short of it is that I need to stick to a regimen that includes DHA. Not only does it help my brain and eyes, it has the ability to help my heart and that is extremely important. I am thankful to have learned that DHA can benefit both men and women; this is a product that I have shared with my husband as well.
I have taken omega-3 supplements in the past; however, until recently I have been hard pressed to find a product that did not result in an upset stomach, fishy burping which can be rather embarrassing, and often a horrible aftertaste. In my experience, AVASIA Prenatal DHA has proven to be a more “user friendly” product. Not that it is all about being pregnant but this is especially important for pregnant mommas. It is not abnormal for them to suffer with a sensitive tummy and an aversion to icky tastes/aftertastes.
As with any form of medication/vitamin/supplement, please consultant with your doctor prior to introducing a new product to your daily regimen.
For this momma that hopes to be pregnant sooner than later, I like AVASIA Prenatal DHA and the added benefits that it offers.
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