Eating fish during pregnancy helps ward off allergies in kids

Women who eat oily fish when pregnant or during breast-feeding are more likely to reduce the risk of their children developing food allergies and asthma etc, says a new study.

A new research suggests that women consuming oily fish while pregnant or during breast-feeding may reduce the risk of their children developing food allergies, asthma, eczemas or hay fever.

The findings have showed that children introduced to fish and eggs -- major source of omega 3 fatty acids -- before 11 months of age had a lower risk of developing allergies.

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“Fish intake in the family seems to reduce the risk of allergies,” said Karin Jonsson from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, in a statement.

Kids who eat fish, eggs and flour early in life were found to have less allergies, as they had higher levels of omega-3 in their blood.

Fish intake in the family seems to reduce the risk of allergies. (Shutterstock )

The results showed that at birth, and again at four months of age, the healthy children had higher proportions of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, in their blood.

“The levels corresponded with the mother’s intake of fatty fish. The mothers of children with high proportions of omega-3 in the blood had been eating a lot of fish during pregnancy and lactations, and we could also see evidence of this in their breastmilk,” Jonsson explained.