Strengthen Your Child's Immune System With Omega-3s?

The benefits of Omega-3s keep getting better!

This time, Omega-3s could prove beneficial in preventing allergies - in unborn children.

The population of people suffering from allergies continues to grow.

And those numbers SEEM TO NOT be going down.

In fact, children are being diagnosed at EVEN earlier ages for different allergies.

FYI: 6 percent of children, under the age of 3, will be diagnosed with some kind of allergy.

And this is scary.

If you are pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, then you should take note.

The information here could contain information for improving your child’s immune system, and possibly preventing allergies.

Confused?

Let me explain…

Allergies

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in food-borne allergies, and allergies in general.

In fact, the number of people suffering from different types of allergies has increased from the years 1996 to 2007.

Here are some STAGGERING statistics on allergies:

• 54.6% of Americans suffer from one or more allergies.

• A recent survey showed that most US houses contained 6 traceable allergies.

• It is estimated that 40-50 million Americans suffer from a form of allergic disease.

• In 2007 alone, an estimated 3 million children suffered from an allergy.

• There was an increase of 18 percent of children under the age of 18 who were diagnosed with an allergy.

• 65 percent of children under the age of 3 may have an allergy.

• And there are A LOT more

These statistics are staggering.

But there could be hope!

Based on current research, increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, may increase the circulation of omega-3 fatty acids - in your unborn child.

This may enhance brain and eye development.

Now, breakthrough research shows omega-3 fatty acids could potentially improve the immune system in your unborn child.

The Research

Researchers asked a basic question: can omega-3 fatty acids improve the immune system of children in utero.

They set out to prove this theory!

They recruited 123 pregnant women and randomized them into two groups.

The first group maintained their normal diet (lacking oily fish).

The second group was instructed to consume salmon twice per week, starting after gestational week 20 until birth.

Research has shown that in the third trimester of pregnancy, the increase of omega-3 fatty acids in your developing child’s brain may be the greatest.

They assessed cord blood and infants at 6 months of age (86 infants).

The results were AMAZING!

The researchers noted that in the group who consumed salmon twice per week, the production of interleukin molecules was LOWER.

Specific interleukins, IL-2, IL-4,IL-5 and IL -10 were lower when the cord blood was exposed to an allergen.

The researchers concluded that intake of oily fish during pregnancy may IMPROVE the neonatal immune response.

If You Are Pregnant or Know Someone Who Is

Pregnancy may be a wonderful time in your life.

You may do everything for your unborn child, including taking precautions to ensure you have a healthy baby.

Today, however, many different people develop allergies.

And the number of children under the age of 3 who develop an allergy is increasing.

But new research shows how omega-3 fatty acids may improve your unborn child's development.

The third trimester may be a vital time in your child’s brain, eye, and immune system development.

Current research suggests that increasing your intake of fatty fish, like salmon, could increase your omega-3 fatty acid levels, and potentially increase your child’s concentration of omega-3s as well.

This may increase omega-3 fatty acid concentration in your child’s brain, and may decrease certain cells responsible for allergic responses.

If you find it hard to increase your fish intake to meet the recommended 2 times per week, then you may benefit from a Krill oil supplement which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Your child will thank you later!


NEXT: The Easiest Way To Increase Omega-3 Fats Into Your Daily Nutrition >>





References:

Noakes, P.  Vlachava, M.  Kremmyda, LS.  Diaper, N.  Mile, E.  Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, M.  Williams, A.  Godfrey, K.  Calder, P.  Increase intake of oily fish in pregnancy: effects on neonatal immune responses and on clinical outcomes in infants at 6 mo.  Am J Clin Nutr.  2012.  doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.022954.