| Kids who eat lower-calorie meals won't snack | | | | to limit their weekly seafood consumption to no |
| more later, as long as they are eating about the | | | | more than 12 ounces, or about two servings, per |
| same amounts they are accustomed to. | | | | week. |
| Researchers presented those findings yesterday | | | | The newest recommendation comes from the |
| at the Obesity Society's annual meeting in New | | | | National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, |
| Orleans, reports USA Today. For four days over | | | | a nonprofit group that focuses on childhood health |
| two weeks, researchers at Pennsylvania State | | | | issues. That group's scientific advisors say that |
| University fed 26 children at a child-care center | | | | pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat |
| breakfast, lunch and snack, and gave them | | | | at least 12 ounces of fish per week. Although |
| take-home dinners and snacks. | | | | both recommendations acknowledge that |
| The same menu was served each week, but one | | | | pregnant women can safely eat about two |
| week the kids were given low-fat and low-sugar | | | | servings a week, fears of mercury contamination |
| versions of the foods as well as more vegetables. | | | | in seafood have prompted many pregnant |
| The changes included 1 percent milk instead of | | | | women to forgo fish entirely. |
| whole, fruit served in juice instead of syrup, and | | | | And here's the conundrum: an increasing number |
| pasta made with low-fat dairy and pureed | | | | of studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids, |
| vegetables. | | | | found mostly in fish, are essential to brain |
| The researchers wanted to know if the kids | | | | development in fetuses and newborns. Earlier this |
| would naturally compensate for the | | | | year, a report in The Lancet, a medical journal, |
| reduced-calorie menus by eating extra amounts | | | | concluded that women who had eaten more than |
| later in the day or the following day. But they | | | | 12 ounces of fish per week during pregnancy |
| didn't. Instead, they ate about the same amount | | | | produced better developed, more intelligent |
| they had previously, consuming 400 fewer | | | | children. "Advice that limits seafood consumption |
| calories over the two days they were served the | | | | might reduce the intake of nutrients necessary |
| lower-calorie foods. "People tend to eat the same | | | | for optimum neurological development," wrote |
| weight of food from day to day, and that's what | | | | scientists from the National Institutes of Health |
| these kids did," Penn State nutritionist Barbara | | | | and the University of Illinois at Chicago. |
| Rolls told the newspaper. | | | | "The real problem here are the women who are |
| The lesson for parents who are worried about | | | | just eliminating fish from their diet," said Judy |
| their child's weight is to come up with lower-calorie | | | | Meehan, executive director of the National Healthy |
| versions of their kid's favorite foods. Use skim | | | | Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. "Eating 12 |
| milk and low-fat dairy products, for example, or | | | | ounces is a very safe, smart move, and nobody |
| substitute pureed vegetables in recipes. | | | | is disputing that.'' While none of the research cited |
| Should Pregnant Women Eat More Seafood? | | | | yesterday in the coalition's recommendations has |
| For years, pregnant and nursing women have | | | | been funded by the fish industry, the coalition is |
| been warned to limit the amount of fish they eat, | | | | using a grant from the National Fisheries Institute, |
| because many marine species may contain high | | | | a seafood industry group, to fund its educational |
| levels of mercury, which endangers newborns and | | | | campaign, according to Ms. Meehan. |
| fetuses. Yesterday, however, a children's health | | | | For women who want the health benefits but |
| group challenged the conventional wisdom, advising | | | | worry about mercury and other toxins, the |
| pregnant women and nursing mothers to eat | | | | wisest course is to choose fish with the lowest |
| more fish so as to ensure optimal brain | | | | levels of mercury. A recent report in The Journal |
| development in their babies. | | | | of the American Medical Association concluded |
| Fearing mercury contamination, many pregnant | | | | that the health benefits are likely greatest from |
| women avoid seafood altogether. That may | | | | such oily fish as salmon, herring and sardines - |
| actually harm newborns, according to some | | | | which are all generally low in mercury anyway. |
| scientists. (John McConnico for The New York | | | | Among the fish to avoid are shark, swordfish, |
| Times) What's going on here? Currently, the Food | | | | king mackerel and tilefish, all of which may contain |
| and Drug Administration advises pregnant women | | | | high levels of mercury. |