Sunday, December 2, 2007

Pregnancy - Required Nutritions

Nutrition during Pregnancy- Eating Right to Stay Healthy

Nutrition during pregnancy is important for the mother. If she eats right, she will probably have a less problematic pregnancy. The symptoms of pregnancy can get aggravated if you do take the right pregnancy nutrition. You can also develop other complications during pregnancy, such as anemia and pre-eclampsia by not eating right.

Healthy Nutrition during Pregnancy Includes

Cereals- Eat fortified cereals for breakfast. These provide you with all the basic nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fiber content.

Milk and Milk products- Milk and milk products are very good source of calcium and calcium is good for the bones and teeth. Calcium intake is a must for a pregnant mother. Milk, yoghurt and cheese are sources of calcium and good nutrition during pregnancy.

Fruits and vegetables- Have freshly cooked vegetables and eat lots of fresh fruits and citrus fruits. These are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber and can prevent constipation and acidity. Wash the fruits thoroughly before you eat them.

Lentils and nuts- Lentils, nuts and soy are excellent sources of protein. Proteins are the building blocks of the human cells and are very important for the baby’s healthy growth in the mother’s womb.

Do Not Go On a Diet during Pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy does not mean that you must eat only specific foods or go on a diet. Either of them is unhealthy for you and your baby. Eat a variety of foods, which are rich in nutrients.

Dietary Supplements

Even before you have conceived and as soon as you make a preconception, visit to your doctor, he will ask to eat some kind of folic acid supplements. Folic Acid is important for the healthy growth of your baby’s spine and brain. Without it, your baby can suffer from serious birth defects. Your doctor will also prescribe you calcium and other special prenatal vitamins. You must never buy over the counter vitamins, without asking your doctor’s advice.

Nutrition during pregnancy helps you and your baby to stay healthy. After all, this is the time when your baby grows the fastest and it must have a nutritious diet to sustain growth and health.

Pregnancy - Nutritious Diet Plan

What Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

It is very important to eat a nutritious diet during pregnancy. By now, we all know what foods constitute a healthy diet, but do we know what foods to avoid during pregnancy.


The Foods That You Must Avoid During Pregnancy

We must avoid eating unwashed vegetables- Vegetables are usually sprayed with pesticides. Eating them with out washing can cause harm to you and the baby in your womb.

Eggs-It is better not to eat eggs during pregnancy, because eggs can give you salmonella infection.

Raw meat- Raw meat contains harmful bacteria, which if ingested by the mother, can cause untold harm to her and the baby.

Fish and Sea food- Do not eat fish during pregnancy, especially king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish. These contain mercury and mercury poisoning can cause the infant delayed development and brain damage. Smoked seafood, fish exposed to sea and river pollution, and raw shellfish should also not be consumed.

Unpasteurized milk- Unpasteurized milk has harmful bacteria that can affect both mother and child and cause immense damage. It may even cause miscarriage.

Caffeine- Avoid taking caffeine in any form. Caffeine is a diuretic and causes loss of water and the essential nutrient calcium from the mother’s body. Some studies have shown that, it is a major cause of low birth weight and birth defects in the newborn infant. It is also associated with miscarriage.

Alcohol- Alcohol can play havoc with the male and female reproductive systems. It is best to avoid it during pregnancy. It is also known to cause fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a form of mental retardation and the only mental retardation that is 100% preventable, in the baby.

The Ideal Diet

Now, you that know what foods to avoid during pregnancy; the ideal pregnancy diet plan would be a healthy vegetarian diet of freshly cooked green leafy vegetables, pulses and fresh fruits, and foods rich in carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals