After an extensive review of the health effects of eating fish, experts conclude that eating a variety of seafood at least twice each week during pregnancy improves baby brain development. Because pregnant women in the US eat so little seafood each week, most expectant mothers should aim to quadruple the amount of fish they eat to meet the newly proposed draft recommendation.<\/p>\n
This advice follows three exhaustive reviews* of the health effects of eating seafood during pregnancy, all of which point to the need for women to eat at least two seafood meals weekly.<\/p>\n
\u201cFDA is working to translate years of important nutrition science into updated advice, and that\u2019s exciting,\u201d said Jennifer McGuire from the US National Fisheries Institute. \u201cExpectant moms and health professionals alike have been confused about seafood advice during pregnancy and FDA has begun the process of setting the record straight that fish should be a pregnancy staple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis news begins to mobilize pregnant women to add more fish to their diets,\u201d said Ms McGuire. \u201cIt is an important starting point.\u201d<\/p>\n
* <\/em><\/em>Quantitative Assessment of the Net Effects on Fetal Neurodevelopment from the Eating Commercial Fish (As Measured by IQ and also by Early Age Verbal Development in Children)<\/em><\/em><\/a>, June 2014 <\/em><\/p>\n