The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) have praised a new United States government report recommending Americans eat more seafood and encouraging women to eat seafood during pregnancy.
Women should eat seafood before, during and after pregnancy, according to 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) Scientific Report, which will serve as the foundation for developing the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The committee found that Americans should eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood weekly, particularly before, during, and after pregnancy, NFI President John Connelly said in a press release.
In addition, starting at six months old, complementary foods should prioritize seafood and toddlers, especially, should eat seafood to support brain development.
“The report highlights that only 20 percent of adults and 6 percent of children meet the goal of eating seafood twice per week,” Connelly said. A healthy diet should provide good sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as seafood, beginning at ages 6 to 12 months, the DGAC found.
“The 2020 DGAC Scientific Report and its findings of favorable impacts of seafood for cognitive development and language and communication development in children is great news,” SNP President Linda Cornish said in a press release.
“Since no evidence emerged to support a maximum intake level or any negative impact, we hope the limit on quantity and species of seafood is lifted in the final guidelines to provide a clear, evidence-based message to Americans on seafood consumption,” Cornish added.
The report is “one more piece of evidence that Americans of all ages should eat seafood more frequently,” Connelly said. “As part of a healthy dietary pattern, seafood offers a lifetime of benefits from brain development among babies to heart health and a healthy weight for adults.”
“The report even notes the link between diet-related diseases – which regular seafood consumption can help prevent – and increased susceptibility to the current global pandemic,” Connelly added.
Among other benefits of eating seafood, the DGAC scientific report found that:
- Seafood consumption before pregnancy may be related to reduced risk of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders.
- Consumption during pregnancy may be related to reduced risk of hypertensive disorders and preterm birth and better cognitive development and language and communication development in children.
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