NutraBella Launches New Bellybar Flavor Featuring DHA

08/01/07 DHA omega-3 innovator Martek Biosciences and NutraBella have announced that Bellybar, an all natural line of snack bars for pregnant and breastfeeding women, has introduced Burstin' Chocolate, featuring Martek's life'sDHA. Designed to meet the nutritional needs of women before, during and after pregnancy, the new bar includes 100 mg of life'sDHA, a vegetarian form of DHA omega-3. DHA is a fatty acid important for optimal brain, eye, and nervous system development in infants and may play a role in maternal well- being. This "on-the-go" snack will provide health-conscious women with healthy calories, vitamins (such as folic acid and iron) and minerals that complement their other sources of nutrition. At a 1.59 oz. (45 gm) size, the Burstin' Chocolate bar is a sensible, healthy treat. The snack bars are currently available at select Whole Foods Markets, Babies-R-Us, Mimi Maternity, Motherhood Maternity, Wegmans, Meijer, Hannaford, HEB and other select retailers around the United States.

"In developing Bellybar, our goal has been to constantly deliver the best possible products for women pre-conception, during pregnancy and while nursing. We are so pleased to be launching a product that provides life'sDHA, along with other key vitamins and minerals, to women during this important time while maintaining the exceptional taste that women expect from Bellybar," said Meredith Lincoln, Co-Founder of NutraBella.

"We are excited to be working with NutraBella on this nutritional product which is being marketed to health conscious women before, during and after pregnancy. Bellybar, already enjoyed by expecting moms, is now providing these women with the opportunity to get DHA omega-3 from a safe, great-tasting source, along with other key nutrients for health," said Steve Dubin, Martek's CEO.

DHA omega-3 is a long chain omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eye and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to aging adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3 in the diet. Several recent scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA omega-3 in proper brain and eye development and function, and there are large clinical studies underway to evaluate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders. Yet despite its importance, Americans have among the lowest dietary intakes of DHA omega-3 in the world.

Martek's life'sDHA is unique in the market because it is derived from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Made from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life'sDHA is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oils. Microalgae are the only vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, the key omega-3 for brain development and function.