The Importance of Plant Based DHA for Women of Childbearing Age
A person's DHA levels are diet dependant. Women of childbearing age who consume a typical Western diet are at risk for low stores of DHA. This is because the primary dietary sources of DHA are fatty fish and organ meats, dietary choices that are not staples of the Western diet. Additionally, expert bodies such as the FDA have advised pregnant and nursing women to limit their fish consumption due to the potentially high levels of toxins such as mercury (See Fish Advisories).
As awareness of the importance of DHA grows, more attention is being paid to the fact that pregnant and breastfeeding women may benefit from getting more DHA in their diets. In fact, one expert body recommended that pregnant and nursing women consume 300mg of DHA per day, which is well above the typical daily intake of less than 100mg DHA. A growing awareness of the dietary sources of DHA and the inclusion of DHA into a growing number of prenatal supplements are making it easier for women of childbearing age to include this important nutrient in their diets every day.
