In my book I explain how knowledge equates to power – especially as it relates to fertility and pregnancy outcomes. But knowing and understanding how everything that a woman does during pregnancy affects the growing baby inside her, is immensely empowering.
Research is always uncovering links where we don’t expect them. An example here is how consuming certain fats has been linked to increased rates of ADHD.
These fats are those categorised as PUFAs or polyunsaturated Omega 6. This can get confusing as extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is also an Omega 6 oil yet it is healthy. The fats that are damaging are the ones known widely as vegetable oils which are predominantly made from seeds. This includes canola, sunflower, safflower, corn, grapeseed, and peanut oils.
According to Ashley Armstrong:
Autism rates have risen dramatically, from 2 to 4 cases per 10,000 children in the 1960s to ’70s to about 1 in 36 children in the U.S. today A ground-breaking study found a link between polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites in umbilical cord fluid and autism severity in children. The study found that high levels of diHETrE, a metabolite of arachidonic acid (derived from linoleic acid), in cord blood significantly impacted autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptom severity Modern diets have seen a massive shift towards consuming more PUFAs, with linoleic acid intake increasing from less than 2% to over 25% of total daily calories. High-PUFA intake during pregnancy may influence foetal neurodevelopment through increased production of inflammatory molecules called eicosanoids Similar studies have linked high maternal omega-6 intake to increased risks of ADHD and cognitive impairments in children Experts suggest returning to traditional fat sources lower in PUFAs and reconsidering prenatal nutrition advice that currently promotes vegetable oils over saturated fats
The Generational Impact
Perhaps one of the most concerning aspects of this dietary shift is its potential to affect multiple generations. And this impacts the child’s development after birth as well, as the fatty acid composition of breast milk has drastically changed in parallel with changes in dietary fats.
As Dr. Mercola’s review paper on LA12 notes: “A seminal study conducted in 1959 [27] provided lactating women with a high-LA diet consisting of fats from lard, corn oil, or linseed oil, which approximated the LA content of the standard American diet, with approximately 15% to 30% of total calories coming from LA.
Within 2 to 3 days of changing their usual diet to the high-LA diet, the amounts of LA in their breast milk increased from 8% to 10% to 42%. The study highlights that the LA content of breast milk has significantly increased in human breast milk due primarily to marked changes in the nature of the fats consumed.”
This rapid change in breast milk composition means that infants are now being exposed to significantly higher levels of LA from their very first meals. The dietary shifts we’ve made aren’t just affecting us; they’re changing the nutritional landscape for generations to come.
Read more about the dietary ingredients that fuel autism.
Sources and References
1 J Intellect Disabil Res. 2005 Apr;49(Pt 4):231-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00676.x 2 Surveillance Summaries / March 24, 2023 / 72(2);1–14 3 Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, doi: 10.1111/pcn.13710 4 Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):560S-569S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/70.3.560s 5 National Cancer Institute, Identification of Top Food Sources of Various Dietary Components 6 The Journal of Pediatrics Volume 209, June 2019, Pages 204-211.e4 7, 10 J Pediatr. 2019 Jun:209:204-211.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.02.022. Epub 2019 Mar 28 8 J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018 Sep;59(9):1003-1011. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12898. Epub 2018 Mar 24 9 J Nutr. 2013 Sep;143(9):1481-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.178640. Epub 2013 Jul 31 11 J Neuroendocrinol. 2023 Sep; 35(9): e13320, Introduction 12 Nutrients 2023, 15(14), 3129; doi: 10.3390/nu15143129 13 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Volume 93, Issue 5, May 2011, Pages 950-962 14 USDA, Tips for Pregnant Moms
