Baby on the way? Eat salmon

Angela Day exams food. Salmon fish cakes. Picture: Steve Lawrence

Angela Day exams food. Salmon fish cakes. Picture: Steve Lawrence

Published Feb 13, 2012

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London - Eating salmon twice a week may be good for pregnant women and their unborn babies.

New research shows that moms-to-be who were given two meals of salmon a week from 20 weeks had increased levels of key antioxidants compared with a control group who stuck to their normal intake of oily fish (on average, half a portion a week).

The study, from the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology at the University of Granada, found that the women had higher levels of selenium, an antioxidant important for the immune system. Vitamin D levels also increased.

And, at birth, the babies whose mothers had the salmon also had higher selenium levels.

The researchers suggested that increased salmon intake “may increase antioxidant defences during pregnancy”.

However, experts caution that pregnant women should not eat more than two portions of oily fish a week, because it may contain pollutants that can harm the baby’s development. - Daily Mail

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