Should DHA Be Consumed During Lactation? What Are the Benefits?
The diet of breastfeeding mothers has a significant impact on their babies. Therefore, it is essential to ensure daily nutritional health, hygiene, safety, and comprehensiveness in order for the baby to obtain more nutrients through breast milk and achieve good development. Some breastfeeding mothers may be concerned about whether they need to consume DHA during lactation and what the benefits are. Regarding these questions, it is important to have a clear understanding. Consuming DHA during lactation can improve the quality of breast milk and benefit the baby's development to some extent.
1. Breastfeeding Mothers Can Consume DHA
Breastfeeding women should consume at least 200 milligrams of DHA per day. This is mainly achieved through dietary supplements, which can increase the content of DHA in breast milk and also enhance the intellectual development of the baby.
2. Foods That Can Supply DHA for Breastfeeding Mothers
(1) Fish
There are many types of fish that are rich in DHA, such as saury, swordfish, tuna, and yellow croaker. The DHA content in 100 grams of fish can reach over 1000 milligrams. For a specific type of fish, the eye socket fat is recommended as it contains a high level of DHA, followed by fish oil.
(2) Dried Fruits
Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and peanuts are also rich in nutritional value. The alpha-linolenic acid contained in them can be converted into DHA in the human body.
(3) Algae
3. DHA Supplements for Breastfeeding Mothers
(1) Currently, there are two types of DHA available in the market: one extracted from deep-sea fish oil and the other extracted from algae. The former originates from fish fat, and the EPA content in fish oil is relatively high, which often results in a low proportion of DHA and a significant difference from breast milk, generally not meeting the physiological needs of children.
(2) In contrast, algae are more popular as a source of pure plant-based DHA extracted from artificially cultivated marine microalgae. It is the purest source of DHA without going through a physical link. Its stability is particularly strong, and it is not easily oxidized, making it especially suitable for babies.
Female friends during lactation should also supplement some nutritional elements appropriately to ensure the healthy development of their babies. DHA is essential, and if children lack DHA, it may have an impact on their intellectual development. Therefore, it is recommended to consume more nuts and fish regularly, and preferably obtain DHA extracted from algae.
