Dr. Blair attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. She was awarded her medical degree at Emory University and completed her pediatric residency in 1996. Dr. Blair is currently a Clinical Preceptor at Emory and Morehouse Schools of Medicine and a medical contributor to Extraordinary Health magazine.

When it comes to the health of your children, we want to provide you with the best information from the most reliable sources to help you make wise choices. Jordan Rubin asked his good friend Dr. Fiona Blair—a board certified pediatrician—to answer several key questions about an important nutrient.

Several studies have pointed to a definitive link between a child’s health and DHA consumption. Do you think most parents are aware of the importance of a diet that includes plenty of DHA-rich foods?

Dr. Blair: DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found throughout the body. It is most heavily concentrated in the brain, eyes and heart. Unfortunately, most people are probably unaware of its importance for their overall health. That would not be a problem if the typical American diet included wholesome, natural foods that consisted of good quality meats, fresh fish, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Because most people in this country consume heavily processed foods made with overly refined ingredients, our diets are woefully deficient in this nutrient. Therefore, we need to make a concerted effort to supplement our diets.

What are some appropriate DHA-rich foods for young children?

Dr. Blair: The foods that have the highest concentration of DHA are fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines. You can get some DHA from flaxseeds, eggs, raw milk and some nuts, but only in trace amounts. As long as children have no allergies to these foods, they may partake in them.

Do you recommend DHA consumption for nursing moms?

Dr. Blair: I do advise nursing moms to either eat several servings of fish each week such as wild Atlantic salmon or mackerel, which are low in mercury, or take a highly purified fish oil supplement.

We think of children’s nutrition as happening after they are born, but can’t pregnant women give their child-to-be a head start by eating a DHA-rich diet?

Dr. Blair: Studies have shown that DHA and the other omega-3 fatty acids are    important for the development of the brain and eyes in infants.† Mothers-to-be can give their babies a great head start in life by eating well and by supplementing their diets with these nutrients.