Eat Fish to Avoid Anxiety During Pregnancy

Eating fish during pregnancy eases anxiety, a research based on 9, 500 expecting mothers claims.

The researchers at the University of Bristol and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro studied the different dietary patterns of the participants. They classified them into five different nutritional groups;  health-conscious, traditional, processed, confectionery and vegetarian.

The study results showed that women who never ate seafood had 53 percent increased chances of high stress levels during their 32 week gestational period. Compared to dietary patterns of other participants, pregnant vegans had 25 percent more chances of experiencing anxiety levels. Pregnant women, who had health-conscious diets, were at 23 percent reduced risk than participants with unhealthy diet.

The researchers wrote in their study, published in Plos One Journal, that expecting mothers who avoid seafood during their pregnancy are at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety. It is a known fact that nervousness during pregnancy has negative effects. It can result in premature birth with a weak baby and long-term health issues in women.

The study authors noted that two meals of white fish and one meal of oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, should be included in the diet during pregnancy. It further said that the dietary requirement during pregnancy is increased and simply eating vegetarian or healthy food won't fulfill the demand.

"An important message from this research is that in order to have a healthy pregnancy, women need to follow a healthy diet and not something special for pregnancy. It means a diet containing whole cereals, vegetables, salad, fruit, dairy foods, meat, poultry, pulses and fish - three portions per week with at least one of oily fish, such as salmon, sardine or tuna," Dr Juliana Vaz, lead study author said. She added that sweets and fast foods should be kept at bay due to their low nutrient count.

According to Dr Pauline Emmett, a senior dietitian and the study co-author, the association of anxiety and fish consumption in pregnancy is not completely proved, it is highly possible that omega-3 fatty acid ease the nervousness. "Some vegetarians are happy to eat fish from time to time and we would encourage this, especially as we are not sure what ingredient in fish is the most effective," Dr Emmett said.