Healthy Fats galore!  35 weeks into this pregnancy and the weight piling on, fat is probably the last word I want to hear right now!  But, what is nice to hear is this…pregnancy is not a time to skimp on eating healthy fats.  I’m sure you’ve heard some fats are better than others, so which fats do you need during pregnancy?  Omega-3’s!  Omega-3’s are considered essential fatty acids because you have to acquire them from food or supplements.  Your body won’t make them or anything fancy like that.  One omega-3 you may have heard of is DHA (known in the science world as docosahexaenoic acid).  DHA is especially important during pregnancy because it is absolutely vital for that unborn baby’s brain and eye development, nervous system, and immune system (1, 2, 3).  Along with benefits to baby, a pregnant mom consuming omega-3’s reduces her risk of pre-term labor, pre-eclampsia, and possibly post-partum depression (2, 3). 

Food Sources:  Fish is the most likely source of omega-3's; however, is...

Plenty of research exists as to why essential fatty acids are important, so why doesn’t everyone eat fish or find another method for consuming essential fatty acids?  Is it because of cost, availability, convenience, lack of awareness, vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, or some other reason?

Let’s look at the two most beneficial omega 3’s backed by extensive research---EPA and DHA.  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 essential fatty acids very difficult to pronounce, so good thing they have simple acronyms we can refer to instead!  They are found in fish and fish oil and although they work together in the body, each fatty acid has very unique benefits.  Let’s take a look at each of them. 

Research shows EPA is an anti-inflammatory and also improves heart health, immune function, and circulation, and reduces joint pain.  Because of this, EPA is very beneficial for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel diseas...

You’ve heard about essential fats in the media and you know they’re important, but do you know why and how to balance your essential fatty acid intake?   Let’s explore this.  First off, essential fatty acids are considered “essential” because they’re required for optimal health, but our body can’t produce them so we must consume them through our food or supplementation.

There are two families of essential fatty acids:  omega-3 and omega-6, and each have different effects on our body.  Both fatty acids are important, but the real key is to consume omega-3 and omega-6 in a balanced ratio to maintain health.  When out of balance, excess intake of omega-6 promotes inflammation, increases blood clotting, and depresses the immune system.  On the other hand, omega-3 is anti-inflammatory, increases circulation, and enhances the immune system.  Here’s what you may not realize…the modern Western diet has negatively shifted this crucial balance by the availability of too much omega-6 on a daily ba...