Linda Palmer wrote:
> "Average" DHA levels in human milk, measured in the Western world 
> over the years of our worst omega-3 intakes (lowest fish eating and pre-
> fish-oil awareness) has been reported to be .05 grams per 100g --- 5 
> times what they're adding to formulas today. More may be a little 
> better, and possibly so with some other nutrients, but we are speaking 
> very, very marginal differences compared to WP's grandiose claims.
>
> Best, linda
> Baby Matters
>   

Lack of ALA/DHA in the maternal diet is a big issue in the West.  It's
one area that is badly served by the message that breastmilk has
everything baby needs, as long as mother is eating a balanced diet.

So few mothers understand that a balanced diet has to have high quality
fats in it daily.  'Fats' are seen as a bad word, and a bad thing, and
something to avoid.  I've spoken with mothers who had been on low-fat
diets throughout the whole pregnancy, and during breastfeeding.  When
you tell them they need to up their fat intake, they react as if you've
suggested mainlining cocaine!

We don't _need_ to eat fish, of course.  ALA is actually the essential
fatty acid, not the DHA, as long as we take in ALA, we'll make DHA in
our milk. (Not suggesting anyone said otherwise!)

There's quite a lot of anecdotel evidence, that ingesting ALA,
particularly from Flaxseed/Linseed oil, has a whole range of benefits
for females, lactating or not.   Given our gatherer/hunter biology, ALA
from plant material was clearly a more common component in our daily
diet than fish.

There was actually an interesting article about this a few weeks ago,
when breastmilk was analysed from different tribal/cultural groups in
East Africa, and the more traditional living group had much higher DHA
levels from fish ingestion.  The kicker was, the fish ingestion depended
on high tech fishing technologies that have not been around for long.
Fish is a pretty new staple to the human diet, speaking evolutionary.
And, of course, there is the issue of mercury contamination now.

Another shortfall on mother's knowledge/information on this, is that few
mothers have been informed that if they are breastfeeding during
prganancy, and/or tandem feeding, their ALA/DHA intake has to go up
accordingly.  Many second children, tandem nursed or not, are getting
less DHA in their milk than the first did - purely to do with how busy
Mama is with two, and she isn't getting her ALA/DHA herself.

On the ADD/ADHD/Autism issues that are arising in our children, some of
which respond well to extra ALA/DHA being added to their diet... this is
one area where I personally feel that 3, if not 4, generations of
formula feeding is making it's mark.  If you didn't have enough DHA, and
your mother didn't, and her mother didn't, and her mother didn't....

Oh to be super wealthy, and to be able to afford to fund proper
scientific research....

Morgan Gallagher
Online Lactaneer
Nursing 29 month old toddler, whilst she guzzles flaxseed oil and trys
to keep her fat intake _down_ to 30% of calories!  ;-)

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