What are the benefits of eating canned tuna during pregnancy?
A. Besides being high in protein and low in fat, canned tuna contains two essential omega-3 fatty acids – DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) – that are especially important during pregnancy. According to numerous studies, DHA comprises approximately 40 percent of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the cell membranes in the brain and is transferred from mother to the fetus at a high rate during the last trimester of pregnancy. Along with DHA, the developing fetus uses EPA for the growth of the brain and the developing nervous system. Of the top 10 most commonly consumed fish in this country, salmon and canned albacore tuna have the highest levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA – according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutritional Database.
A. Besides being high in protein and low in fat, canned tuna is contains two essential omega-3 fatty acids – DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) – that are especially important during pregnancy. According to numerous studies, DHA comprises approximately 40 percent of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the cell membranes in the brain and is transferred from mother to the fetus at a high rate during the last trimester of pregnancy. Along with DHA, the developing fetus uses EPA for the growth of the brain and the developing nervous system. Of the top 10 most commonly consumed fish in this country, salmon and canned albacore tuna have the highest levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA – according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutritional Database. • Q.
