Breastfeeding babies receive linolenic acid to promote healthy brain development.
Your breast milk provides all the nutrients vital to your new
baby's health. If you are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, your
baby should receive everything he needs for growth and development. One
of the essential nutrients in your breast milk is linolenic acid, which
is an essential fatty acid. It plays a role in developing your baby's
brain and eyes, preventing allergies and even reducing the risk of
attention deficit disorder.
Linolenic acid is referred to as an essential fatty acid
because our bodies can't produce it. We must get it from the foods we
eat. There are two forms of linolenic acid: gamma-linolenic acid, or
omega-6, and alpha-linolenic acid, or omega-3. Both forms are essential
to human health and are needed in certain ratios within the body. Good
dietary sources of omega fatty acids include fatty fish such as salmon
and tuna, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, canola oil and soybean oil.
Functions
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center,
linolenic acid plays a crucial role in brain development and function.
Alpha-linolenic acid is a precursor in the body to docosahexaenoic acid,
or DHA, which is found in high concentrations in our eyes and brains.
Omegas are also important for skin, hair, bones and reproductive health.
Adequate linolenic acid in the diet may even help to prevent arthritis,
allergies, attention deficit disorder and breast cancer later in life.
Linolenic Acid for Babies
Sixty percent of the dry weight of a fetal brain is made up
of omega fatty acids, half omega-3 and the other half omega-6. It's easy
to see why not enough could lead to improper brain development. The
Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board recommends infants from
birth to 1 year of age receive .5 grams of linolenic acid a day.
According the University of Maryland Medical Center, breastfed babies
should get enough fatty acids if the mother is eating a well-balanced,
healthy diet.
Mother's Diet
The amount of linolenic acid in breast milk changes depending
on what the mother eats. A study published in the "International
Breastfeeding Journal" showed that a change in consumption of fatty
acids by the mother alters the amount found in her breast milk in less
than two days. This means if mothers want their babies to receive more
omega fatty acids, they must consume more themselves. However,
breastfeeding women should talk to their health care provider prior to
using linolenic acid supplements. If you are unable to breastfeed,
infant formulas are fortified with omegas.
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Good day precious one, We love you more than anything.