Is DHA important for a nursing mother?

If you are trying to increase your DHA levels, check with your MD before eating fish and read warnings on labels. In the mid-west some contaminants in the local water tables are found in high levels in fish; high mercury levels and others may prohibit eating large amounts of ocean fish as well. There are types of fish that are less inclined to store contaminants and pesticides, but check it out! Fish is still an essential source for nutrients, protein, oils and DHA -- a baby brain booster!

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid which is found in abundance in cold water oceanic fish oils. In humans, DHA is provided primarily by diet intake, and in a nursing mother, it can be found in human breast milk. Many formula companies have realized the importance of DHA in the dietary intake of newborn milk, and have now added it to some of their milk formulas. Some research has shown that the DHA levels of breast milk vary a lot based on the diet of the breastfeeding mother. Research has shown that breast milk does boost the growth of the brain because breast milk contains a lot of DHA, as long as the breastfeeding mother, herself, eats foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. So DHA is the main reason why breastfeeding has been shown to increase a child's intelligence. Nursing mothers can increase their levels of DHA in their breast milk by adding fresh fish that are known to be more oily (salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel), or if fish isn't your favorite, you can take flax seed oil or flax seed. Increasing your DHA intake as a nursing mother can increase the amount of DHA in your breast milk for your baby.