Which Fats Are Best for Baby's Brain Development?
QUESTION:
Dear Livitician,
Should I be eating extra fats to support my baby's brain development? What are good food sources of those fats?
Thank you!
ANSWER:
Essential fatty acids are critical for your baby's brain development -- specifically, omega-3 fatty acids. Add into your week:
- Wild fish -- wild salmon, halibut, sole, orange roughy, haddock (2 times per week is fine in regards to mercury (3 ounce portions twice per week)
- Add 1 to 2 Tbsp. of ground flaxseeds into your whole grain cereal or in yogurt.
- Add 1 to 2 Tbsp. of shelled hemp seeds into your cereal or in salad dressing or in spaghetti sauce with your whole wheat pasta (e.g, Manitoba Harvest or Nutiva brand-available on line or at health food stores). Shelled hemp seeds are also a great source of protein, which is also important for your baby's growth.
Also, some prenatal vitamins (check yours) include omega-3 fatty acids, which is a fantastic way to provide insurance that you are getting what you need on a daily basis.
Healthy Pregnancy and Healthy Baby!
Please keep me posted on how you are doing.
--Deborah A. Klein, MS, RD
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Deborah Klein
Deborah Klein , MS, RD, is the world’s first Livitician™ coach, a term she coined beyond Dietician, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness for over 15 years. Her mission is to educate others on achieving optimal wellness through balanced eating, intrinsic coaching and exercise.
At University of California, Davis, Deborah received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and a minor in Exercise Physiology and received her Registered Dietitian license in Georgia. She also completed her Master’s of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition with an emphasis in sports nutrition at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and is a PhD candidate at Saybrook University Graduate College of Mind-Body Medicine. She is also a Certified Intrinsic Coach, which she incorporates into her nutrition counseling to delve into the core of ones’ experiences and thoughts, to identify any barriers to enable long-term health.
Her past career experiences include hosting a TV show in Georgia on Midday News Live, teaching “5 A Day - For Better Health,” working for CNN, Food & Health News and honored as “Registered Dietitian of the Year” by the Spectrum Health Club in Los Angeles. Recently, she was named “Young Dietitian of the Year,” by the American Dietetics Association and served as President of the Los Angeles Dietetics Association.
Currently, Deborah has a private practice where she specializes in weight loss, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, disease prevention, and long-term wellness. She is the author of “200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life” published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. that details her “Livit” philosophy to achieve one’s wellness goals. Through education and discovering each individual’s full potential, Deborah provides individuals with “A Plan to LIVE for!” She resides in Los Angeles and relishes being a mother of 2 boys, Hayden (7 years) and Eitan (5 years).
