While warnings against mercury exposure have left many women incredibly cautious about eating fish while pregnant, a scientist has this week delivered an interesting new claim about this aspect of the pregnancy diet.
According to Harvard Medical School expert Dr Emily Oken, eating fish regularly during pregnancy can actually significantly benefit your unborn child’s future development.
Dr Oken made the revelation during a conference in Dublin this week, stating how her research has proven that the benefits of eating fish while pregnant outweigh any negatives from potential mercury contamination.
The research in question was carried out over extended periods on mothers and their children. Study results reportedly showed that women who consumed higher levels of fish during pregnancy gave birth to children who, later on in their development, displayed improved vocabulary as well as higher attention levels and visual motor skills.
Dr Oken went on to suggest that women eat fish at least twice a week during their pregnancy in order to benefit from high levels of omega-3.
She did, however, qualify that pregnant women should opt for a variety of fish, and should avoid eating a lot of predatory fish such as shark, tuna and swordfish.
