Another reason they might be considered essential is that the membranes of all cells and tissues in the human body require them.

Omega-3s have been associated with healthy aging throughout life, helping to promote a healthy-functioning brain and heart. But as important as they are throughout life, during pregnancy omega-3 levels are twice as important to a baby’s development.

That’s why the results of a US nationwide cohort study should have us all concerned…

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Pregnant people aren’t getting enough omega-3s

According to Dr. Emily Oken, a Harvard Medical School professor and chair of the Department of Population Medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and lead researcher, “Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for supporting positive health outcomes. Getting enough of these nutrients during pregnancy is vital for preventing preterm birth and promoting optimal child health and neurodevelopment,” she says.

Her study looked at information on fish consumption reported by 10,800 pregnant women and supplement intake information from 12,646 pregnant women who are part of the ECHO cohort.

ECHO stands for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes. It’s a program that will run until May 2030 to gain a better understanding of the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development.

The results showed that nearly 25 percent of participants reported not eating fish or eating it less than once per month — and only 16 percent took supplements.

Even more disturbing was the finding that supplement use was less common among those who used tobacco or had a higher BMI, factors putting them at greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Don’t overlook omega-3s

Some expectant mothers avoid fish over mercury concerns. But that may be unfounded…

“Current evidence shows that the benefits of maternal consumption of low-mercury fish, or in its place, omega-3 supplements, outweigh any potential risks,” says Dr. Oken.

But this is important: even if you’re not pregnant, of child-bearing age or male, don’t overlook your omega-3s. For starters,mega-3 fatty acids are the “unsung hero” of heart health and brain as we age — making the nutrients imperative for healthy aging.

A 2022 analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) found daily consumption of 3 grams of EPA and DHA from food or supplements may be the best dose to help lower blood pressure.

That equates to about 4 to 5 ounces of Atlantic salmon. Fish oil supplement doses can vary, but when supplementing it’s wise to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Another analysis, published in 2023 in JAHA, found taking more than 2 grams per day of DHA and EPA in supplement form could help lower triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol, but not LDL cholesterol.

DHA is the main fatty acid that goes into brain cells and is essential to the proper functioning of the eyes and nervous system as well as the brain. Low levels have been associated with depression, chronic pain, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

But the American Heart Association reports that intake of omega-3s by US adults is “abysmally low,” and U.S. health agencies don’t offer guidance for how much omega-s to take other than ALA, and that’s mostly directed to pregnant and breastfeeding moms.

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How to improve your omega-3 status

To get enough omega-3s to give your heart health a boost, you should eat fish at least three times per week and/or take a fish oil supplement.

If mercury concerns weigh heavy, despite what Dr. Oken says, consider krill oil supplements. Krill are small and low on the ocean food chain, making them less likely to contain contaminants.

Some plant foods, like flaxseeds, walnuts, wheat germ and kidney beans can provide ALA, but not DHA and EPA. ALA can be converted in the body to low amounts of DHA and EPA, but the conversion process is quite limited.

Another choice may be omega-3-fortified versions of eggs, bread, fruit juices and milk.

Sources:

Study results show 25% of pregnant people are not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids from their diet or dietary supplements — Science Daily

Demographic and health characteristics associated with fish and n-3 fatty acid supplement intake during pregnancy: results from pregnancy cohorts in the ECHO programme — Public Health Nutrition

The post Who’s most at risk for skimping on omega-3s? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The most shocking might be perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket fuel (yes, you read that right!), fireworks, flares and matches.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to set a limit on perchlorate levels in water even though anyone with common sense might think any rocket fuel — at all — is way too much, considering the chemical has been linked to brain damage in infants and children and can damage our thyroids.

As if drinking rocket fuel isn’t bad enough, you and your family may be eating it as well…

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Perchlorate in your food

A study from Consumer Reports indicates perchlorate has contaminated our food supply. Scientists analyzed 196 samples of 63 grocery store products and 10 fast food items. About 67 percent of the samples had measurable levels of perchlorate ranging from just over two parts per billion (ppb) to 79 ppb.

When looking at general categories, these had the highest levels of perchlorate:

• Baby/kid food, averaging 19.4 ppb
• Fruits and vegetables, averaging 9.3 ppb
• Fast food, averaging 7.7 ppb
• Baked products and grains, averaging 6.9 ppb
• Dairy, averaging 6.2 ppb
• Meat products, averaging 5.3 ppb

How much ‘rocket fuel’ is safe?

According to Consumer Reports, in 2005, the EPA established an “official reference dose” for perchlorate of 0.7 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. This means the EPA considers this to be a safe exposure level.

However, many food experts think this level is too high. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set a tolerable daily intake of less than half that amount: 0.3 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.

While none of the foods tested had perchlorate levels high enough for one serving to exceed the EFSA or EPA’s suggested daily limits, children may be especially vulnerable because of their lower body weight.

For instance, a serving of the boxed mac and cheese the scientists tested would hit nearly 50 percent of the EFSA limit for perchlorate in a child between 1 and 2 years old. And servings of the baby rice cereal, baby multigrain cereal and organic yogurt tested would each hit about a quarter of the EFSA limit. That means with one serving of each of those foods, a child would exceed the EFSA’s safe daily limit.

And even if you’re feeding your child healthy food, they still may quickly go over the limit. One serving of cucumbers, baby carrots and collard greens would each exceed 50 percent of the EFSA daily limit for children between ages 1 and 2.

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Danger to the thyroid

Now for the bad news: there isn’t much you can do to avoid consuming perchlorate through your food. Even eating a healthy diet can put you at risk, since perchlorate is found in fruits and vegetables. You can (and should) wash your fruits and vegetables in filtered water before you consume them, which might at least remove any surface-level contaminants.

Also, it’s best to avoid consuming fast food, mac and cheese and processed chicken products like chicken nuggets, since those all contain high levels of perchlorates and are unhealthy for other reasons. And definitely don’t feed those to your kids.

Consuming unsafe levels of perchlorate can affect the thyroid by interfering with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. Iodide is the salt form of iodine, a mineral crucial to proper thyroid function. This disrupts thyroid functions and could lead to a reduction in thyroid hormone production. That makes perchlorates endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

“Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, and having bad thyroid function could lead, in this case, to type 2 diabetes,” Dr. James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, told USA Today. Disruption of the thyroid can also affect the development of the central nervous system in fetuses and infants.

While you may not be able to avoid eating rocket fuel, you can help protect your thyroid function by getting enough iodine. You can eat foods rich in iodide like iodized salt, organic yogurt, cranberries, navy beans and sea vegetables like kelp and wakame. Or you can supplement if your iodine levels are dangerously low.

Also, you can help optimize thyroid function and increase thyroid hormone efficiency by combining iodine with the amino acid L-Tyrosine.

There is one bit of good news: the EPA says it will set limits on perchlorate by Nov. 21, 2025, according to Consumer Reports. Hopefully, they will begin to regulate the disposal of this dangerous chemical so those perchlorate levels don’t go any higher. We may be stuck with what of it has already polluted our waters and soil as it is a “forever chemical.”

Sources:

Is your family eating rocket fuel? Consumer Reports study finds chemical in food, water — USA Today

Why Rocket Fuel Has Been Contaminating Our Food and Water for Years — Consumer Reports

Perchlorate in Food — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The post Rocket fuel: The toxic danger lurking in our food appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

“Parents have good intentions but may not understand that blankets, quilts and pillows increase a baby’s risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation,” says researcher Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, a senior scientist at the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health in Atlanta.

SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between the ages of one and 12 months and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, claims about 2,500 lives each year in the United States.

To learn more about SIDS, visit the Web site of the American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute at www.sids.org.

Baby’s most dangerous day

Incidents of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have dropped since 1994 when parents and caregivers were first taught to put infants on their backs to sleep. But there is still one day of the year when SIDS surges by 33%.

Beware this deadly threat to your infant

Many parents encourage it, but this one nighttime activity causes more than 5,000 infant deaths each year. Here are a few ways to lessen the risk.

More than half of babies in the U.S. are sleeping in dangerous beds

A great deal of research has looked into why some infants die from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) or suffocate while sleeping. But many parents still let baby sleep in dangerous conditions.

The post Reduce the risks of SIDS appeared first on Easy Health Options®.