When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was advised by a good friend of mine to take omega 3 supplements to prevent postpartum depression. She developed postpartum depression after giving birth and was advised to take omega 3 for her condition. I was skeptical at first especially since I didn't think that I was prone to developing depression. I didn't take her advice at first. Rather, I decided to look it up on the internet.
I was shocked upon learning the number of women who suffer from postpartum depression. It affects quite a significant number of women every year and it can greatly affect the mother's ability to care for the baby. One studied showed that women who consumed more omega 3 especially during the third trimester of pregnancy were less likely to manifest signs of depression during that period for up to 8 months after giving birth. In another study in England, women who ate little fish during the time they were pregnant had twice as much risk of developing depression after giving birth compared to pregnant women.
How does omega 3 help prevent postpartum depression or any other type of depression for that matter? Omega 3 fatty acids actually worked the same way as an antidepressant drug called Prozac. It increased the levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. In a study done on piglets, omega 3 doubled the amount of serotonin in their frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for regulating depression and impulsivity. DHA omega 3 is also part of the neuronal walls, which make for healthy brain cells.
How can mothers get the omega 3 they need? Omega 3 fatty acids are not produced by the body so we need to obtain it by eating fatty fish or by taking fish oil supplements. Consumption of fatty fish is not really advisable for pregnant women as fish can contain toxins like lead and mercury which is harmful for the mother and baby. Instead of eating fish, fish oil supplements may be taken.
Not all fish oil supplements are the same so make sure that you choose one that is of good quality. It should have both DHA and EPA but DHA content should be higher. It should also have undergone molecular distillation to ensure that toxins like mercury and lead are properly removed. Fish oil should also be fresh and should not contain artificial preservatives and additives.
I gave birth to a healthy, bouncy baby boy. I had no problems with depression afterwards and if you are interested to know more about the benefits of omega 3 and how it can help you then please check out the resources below.
Shehla Smith attributes her good health to her omega 3 intake. She believes in the supplements and shares her personal experiences at [http://omega3reference.com]. If you want to know why Shehla thinks so highly of the supplement then please head over to her website at [http://omega3reference.com] for more information.
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