Just another reason to include fish in your diet!
AANP – Eating More Fish Could Reduce Postpartum Depression – (Monday, November 9, 2012) –According to a new scientific review, low dietary levels of omega-3 fatty acids may be behind postpartum depression. (Women are at highest risk of depression during their childbearing years, and the birth of a child may trigger a major depressive episode in vulnerable women. Postpartum depression is associated with diminished maternal health as well as developmental and health problems for her child. Previous research had suggested that there could be links between pregnancy, omega-3 intake levels, and the chemical reaction that enables serotonin, a mood regulator, to be released into the brain.) Most people do not consume sufficient omega-3 fat. But during pregnancy, omega-3s are transferred from the mother to her fetus and later to her breastfeeding infant. As a result, maternal omega-3 levels decrease during pregnancy and remain lowered for at least six weeks following the birth. These findings suggest that new screening strategies and prevention therapies may be useful. Further research is needed to clarify the link and the reasons for it. The findings were announced November 16, 2012 and appear in the November issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. The study will be available online six months after publication.