Are fish oil supplements safer than fresh or frozen fish?
While some research has shown that women who take fish oil supplements during pregnancy might improve their children’s hand-eye coordination, the findings are preliminary — and other research doesn’t support a link between fish oil supplements and improved cognitive or language development in children. The safety of fish oil supplements during pregnancy also has yet to be established. More studies are needed before fish oil supplements can be routinely recommended during pregnancy. Are there other ways to get omega-3 fatty acids? Most research on pregnancy and omega-3 fatty acids focuses on seafood or supplements. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids — such as flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, ground flaxseed and walnuts — can be part of a healthy diet as well. However, researchers haven’t yet determined whether omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources can promote fetal brain development. What’s the bottom line? Though mercury can harm a developing baby’s brain, eating average amoun