The likelihood of children developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be linked to how much fish their mothers eat during pregnancy, American researchers have revealed.
The study found that eating fish at least twice a week when you’re expecting may lower the risk of your kids developing ADHD-like symptoms by up to 60 per cent.
The study did not prove that a change in your diet can definitely discourage ADHD in children but researchers revealed that it does offer insights to the condition that affects thousands of Irish children.
Sharon Saviv, the study’s lead author said: “The really important message is to eat fish.”
Eating fish twice a week during pregnancy reduces the risk of ADHD
“Just stay away from mercury-containing fish, because these protective effects are pretty important.”
The scientist recommended that pregnant women stay away from large fish such as tuna and swordfish, which contain high levels of mercury.
The presence of mercury in the diet of a pregnant woman can increase the risk of a child developing symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness later in life.
