Why Should You Get Your DHA Levels Tested Right Away?
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Pregnancy demands a holistic nutrition plan. A healthy mother should always have a reserve of nutrients in her body prior to her baby’s birth! During pregnancy and right after the baby is born, omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) becomes crucial to the mother and the child’s health and wellness. DHA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that should be consumed regularly by a pregnant woman and a minimum of 200 mg DHA is required per day.
A large part of the baby’s development is directly proportional to the amount of this irreplaceable fatty acid a mother’s body is consuming. It is not manufactured by the body but obtained through diet or supplements. Along with prenatal vitamins, you should, therefore, consider introducing omega-3 fatty acids to your diet plan.
Why Is DHA Important?
A mother’s DHA levels can be a determining factor when a baby’s birth weight is concerned. DHA is also fundamental to the healthy development of the nervous system as well as the vision of the child.
Post-childbirth period some mothers may become susceptible to postpartum depression. A proper DHA balance maintains the mood of a mother and also takes care of her mental health. One of the main causes of postpartum depression is the deficiency of essential fatty acids in the mother. Moreover, most Indian mothers have a vegetarian diet that lacks an intake of fatty fish, which are rich sources of omega-3 DHA. Thus, making it all the more necessary for a mother to take care of her DHA levels.
How To Check Your DHA Level?
A fatty fish-rich diet can be a good way of maintaining your DHA levels. However, because of the presence of heavy metals like mercury in certain kinds of fish, supplementation of DHA with fish oil or other trusted sources is important. If you’re wondering whether your DHA level is up to the mark, you can now test it using a DIY test kit from the comfort of your home if you’re worried about stepping out in the middle of a pandemic.
LifeCell’s offers the perfect solution! LifeCell’s OmegaScore-Prenatal and OmegaScore-Newborn are self-collection test kits that are extremely easy to use. The former is a kit to test your blood sample and is designed to be used by expectant mothers. It requires just a few drops of blood and the results are shared within 3 days. The latter requires just a few drops of your breastmilk to determine your DHA levels. You’ll receive your results in 5-7 days. They have sample videos on their website to ease you further into the process. Just by being in the comfort of your home, you can have access to advanced healthcare with LifeCell’s OmegaScore. It is essential to keep checking your DHA levels periodically as nothing could be a better gift than a healthy future. OmegaScore Diagnostic test kits have been specially designed to measure your DHA deficiency, if any. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to your health!
Once you have your results, it would be easier for you to decide whether you want to change your diet or speak to a gynaecologist for their expert opinion. Do not get too worked up if your levels are low. With proper nutrition, it will go up in no time. The test can be repeated after four weeks. Please remember – keeping tabs on your DHA intake is vital to avoid a lot of health concerns that might arise for you or your baby later. A child’s future is in a mother’s hands, so why not start caring for the precious little angel from day one?
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