Setting The Royal Standard In Healthy Happy Hearts For New Mums

Nutritional expert advises Duchess of Cambridge to follow seafood programme to boost baby’s development and support ideal postnatal nutrition.



As it was revealed that the Duchess of Cambridge likes to do her own food shopping and cooking, a top nutritional expert is advising Kate to sign up for the not-for-profit Healthy Happy Hearts challenge delivered by Seafish (the UK authority on seafood). The six-week challenge will help young mothers get a healthy balanced diet and crucially, the recommended two portions of fish per week that are essential to boosting their baby’s development and supporting ideal postnatal nutrition (*see below for more on the official recommendations). Evidence shows that at least 60% of people in the UK are not eating the right amount to get these important health benefits.

Dr Jane McKenzie, a dietitian and lead academic for food and drink at Queen Margaret University said: “Research has shown that the right nutrition in a baby’s first 1,000 days of life from conception can have a huge impact on a child’s ability to grow and develop. Whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, ensuring you eat the right things so your baby is getting the best nutrition in the womb and throughout their infancy is absolutely essential. It is also important to avoid those things that could be harmful to you or your baby – consult your GP or midwife if you are unsure (more information about advice on fish and shellfish in the notes below).

“Many varieties of fish and shellfish provide a great all round source for many of the nutrients new mothers and babies need including Omega-3, iron, protein, B-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D and iodine.

“The long chain Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for new mums and their babies. These are found mainly in oil-rich fish species like herring, mackerel and salmon, but also the likes of hake and mussels. Omega-3 is also found in some nuts and seeds, but this is different from the long-chain type found in oily fish, which is particularly important for heart health.

“People may only notice the benefits of long chain Omega-3 when they need them most, for example it helps the body repair torn muscle or tissue much quicker, so ideal for pregnant mothers recovering from childbirth. Eating the wrong kind of fatty acids can restrict the body's ability to repair itself.

“For babies, beneficial long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are known to boost development, particularly brain functions and eye sight. Some research from the University of New York has even shown babies who have higher levels of Omega-3 DHA sleep better – a godsend to any new parent.

“For all of these reasons and more, I would strongly advise the Duchess and any new mother to follow a programme like Healthy Happy Hearts by Fish is the Dish, which shows how easy it is to make the simple diet and lifestyle changes that could improve their Omega-3 levels and make a significant difference to their health and wellbeing.”

Healthy Happy Hearts was launched through Fish is the Dish by Seafish (the not for profit UK authority on seafood) following research which showed that most people in the UK are not getting enough portions of Omega-3 rich fish to get the vital health benefits they provide (as recorded by over 3,000 scientific papers). Over 100 people will have the opportunity to take part in the free programme (more details in the notes to editors).

Karen Galloway, a spokesperson for Fish is the Dish by Seafish, and a mum of two girls, said: “Having a new baby in the house is an exciting time and we wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all the best for their new arrival. It’s important that the whole family eat well at this time and would be delighted to provide them with further advice and support through Healthy Happy Hearts initiative to ensure the new addition to the family has the best start in life.”

As well as the important benefits of long chain Omega-3 fatty acids, the Duchess could really benefit from including a variety of seafood in her diet following childbirth. For example many species of whitefish are rich in: protein (which could help her build her strength back up after birth) and iodine (a deficit of which, The Lancet recently reported, could be detrimentally affecting the intellect of some babies born in the UK). Herrings and sardines are a great source of vitamin D and calcium to help keep her bones strong as she recovers from pregnancy. Seafood is also full of nutrients that will boost her immunity and help to convert food into energy. 

With over 100 varieties of seafood available to buy throughout the year in the UK, the Duchess would not be short of dishes to enjoy, as highlighted by Fiona O’Callaghan, spokesperson for James Knight of Mayfair, an official supplier to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales:

“Seasonality is key to sourcing the best quality seafood and to helping protect our fish stocks for future generations. Summer is a fantastic time for fish lovers where local wild fish stocks are usually at their best and in abundance. To get her essential Omega-3 the Duchess could enjoy delicious oil rich fish dishes like herring rolls and mackerel and avocado tartare, but she could also try crab curry, prawns laska or Hake in a Hurry. And there is no shortage of protein-rich white fish in the summer - from hake and lemon sole to salmon and seabass, so the Duchess will have plenty of choice to keep her energy levels up.”

For more information, nutritional advice, recipe ideas or to sign up for the Healthy Happy Hearts challenge visit www.fishisthedish.co.uk