Why is DHA said to be important for your baby's brain?

What is DHA?

DHA is an unsaturated fatty acid. It is an important part of the brain and retina in the human body, and is indispensable for the growth of nerve cells and has a great impact on vision.dha certification

Some researches can find that if there is a lack of DHA, it will directly lead to the lack of the number and growth capacity of the baby's brain cells, making the brain small in size and low in quality.

How to supplement DHA for babies?

Although DHA cannot make babies smarter, it is an indispensable substance for brain growth and development, and should be supplemented in moderation.sialic acid market

Generally, the human body does not have a high demand for DHA, and most people's needs can be met through food.

When should I take DHA supplements?

The primary role of DHA is to participate in the development of the brain, so it is important to supplement during the critical period of your baby's brain development.food ingredients asia If you wait for your baby's brain to mature, supplementation will be ineffective.

From the third month of pregnancy to the age of 3, it is a critical time for your baby's brain to develop, and enough DHA is needed to participate in it.

What kind of food can I use to supplement DHA?

Foods that are naturally rich in DHA are mainly seaweeds and marine fish, so pregnant women and nursing mothers should take care to eat the right amount of these foods and can follow the above recommendations.

If for any reason you can't, you can consider taking some DHA supplements, most of which are extracted from seaweed and marine fish.

For babies who still need to breastfeed, breastmilk is the main source of DHA, and the DHA in breastmilk comes from the food that mom eats. As long as mom follows the recommendations to eat these foods, her baby won't be lacking in DHA.

Do I need DHA supplements?

Although fish and seaweed are the best sources of DHA, if the mother and baby don't like them, are allergic to them, or can't eat them, then they do need DHA supplements to help, so is fish oil or seaweed oil better?

Some people are concerned that fish oil contains heavy metals and other harmful substances, while others worry that it contains EPA, which is harmful to children.

However, generally speaking, DHA supplements that can be marketed meet health standards and are well below the standard values for heavy metals; EPA isn't really useful for children, but there are no studies that prove it's harmful either.

So there is no difference between the two, but for peace of mind, you can choose algal oil-based DHA supplements for your child.

What about premature babies?

Premature babies need extra supplementation because they get less DHA from their mothers.

Depending on the weight of the preterm baby, additional DHA supplementation is needed, so parents should consult beforehand to determine the daily supplementation amount.

DHA is very important for the development of the baby's brain. Mothers should make it a point to supplement the right amount of DHA from the third trimester of pregnancy until the baby is 3 years old.

With proper supplementation, your baby's brain function can grow and develop properly, but too much supplementation is actually of little significance.