Common Pregnancy Nutrition Concerns
How does what I eat affect my baby?
You may be familiar with thinking of food as the energy your body needs, but food is also the building blocks for your body, and your baby's. Certain nutrients, like protein, are not stored in the body for later use. This means if you do not eat protein every day your body will steal protein from your muscles to build your baby. Proper nutrition helps ensure both you and your baby have everything you need to stay healthy.
What is folic acid and what foods have it?
Folic acid is the additive form of folate, a B vitamin and a key nutrient for pregnancy because a lack of it in the diet has been linked to neural tube defects. Because the neural tube is closed by four weeks after conception, it is especially important to get enough during the earliest part of your pregnancy, before you even know you are pregnant. Folate naturally occurs in legumes, leafy greens and liver. Folic acid is added to prepared cereals and included in prenatal vitamins.
Are any foods unsafe during pregnancy?
Although no food is probably unsafe on its own, you do want to be especially careful about food safety during pregnancy because everything you eat will affect your baby. Be sure your meats and shellfish are fully cooked to avoid contamination. Wash your fruits and vegetables before using to remove any residual chemicals. Unpasteurized milk products have a higher risk of contamination. Be aware of the mercury levels in the fish you enjoy, eating those with high levels less frequently.
Can I use artificial sweeteners during pregnancy?
While there is a lot of research about artificial sweeteners, there is not enough on their use during pregnancy to make any recommendations for or against them. It may be a good idea to limit their use, however if you use processed foods you may find it more difficult to limit than you think. Your best bet is to use natural sugars and limit your sweets, which is healthy any time not just during pregnancy.
Do Prenatal Vitamins supply my daily needs?
No, your prenatal vitamins only help to insure you are getting an adequate balance of vitamins and minerals. There are many other components to foods that are important to your overall health. You need to eat foods to get protein, fiber, carbohydrates, fats, and trace nutrients science does not even understand yet.
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