The Best Foods to Eat While Pregnant
What are the Best Foods to Eat While Pregnant?
The best foods to eat while pregnant are often the same low-fat, healthy foods that most people should eat daily. However, what is good for the average person is absolutely essential for the mother-to-be. Additionally, pregnant women have other rules they should follow, to ensure they are getting the best nutrition for themselves and their fetus. For example, physicians recommend a 300 calorie increase per day.
This may be difficult during times of morning sickness and nausea, so is is critical that the woman find as many foods as possible that she can consume without upsetting her stomach. In addition, vitamin and minerals supplements are needed to make up for nutrients that are difficult to get through diet alone.
On average, the best foods to eat while pregnant consist of the following: 6-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily; 5-10 servings of breads and grain; and 4-5 servings of both dairy and protein. Women should also avoid certain foods that are potentially harmful for the fetus. These include unpasteurized cheeses, raw meat or eggs, and any fish that could contain mercury.
Additionally, women should not consume alcohol, tobacco products, or illegal drugs. If you have any question about ingesting certain items, it is better to avoid them until you can ask your doctor. Even something as seemingly benign as caffeine can have negative effects on a fetus if not consumed in moderation. Unfortunately, the best foods to eat while pregnant may not be enough to sustain a pregnant woman's daily nutritional needs.
Therefore, vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended, specifically vitamins A and C. Calcium is critical for all women, but for mothers-to-be, it has the added job of assisting with the proper formation of bones and teeth. Iron is a mineral that many premenopausal women lack, and it too becomes increasingly essential when pregnant, as it is needed for the development of red blood cells.
Finally, the best foods to eat while pregnant should contain lots of folic acid. Folic acid is necessary for brain and spinal cord formation. It is typically found in green foods (particularly in leafy vegetables like kale and spinach), beans, and citrus fruits.
However, women can not usually get the required amount of folic acid through diet alone, and should therefore take supplements. Many believe that the best foods to eat while pregnant are mostly organic, ensuring that many of nutrients that should be found in these foods are recovered in the soil.
The best foods to eat while pregnant are often the same low-fat, healthy foods that most people should eat daily. However, what is good for the average person is absolutely essential for the mother-to-be. Additionally, pregnant women have other rules they should follow, to ensure they are getting the best nutrition for themselves and their fetus. For example, physicians recommend a 300 calorie increase per day.
This may be difficult during times of morning sickness and nausea, so is is critical that the woman find as many foods as possible that she can consume without upsetting her stomach. In addition, vitamin and minerals supplements are needed to make up for nutrients that are difficult to get through diet alone.
On average, the best foods to eat while pregnant consist of the following: 6-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily; 5-10 servings of breads and grain; and 4-5 servings of both dairy and protein. Women should also avoid certain foods that are potentially harmful for the fetus. These include unpasteurized cheeses, raw meat or eggs, and any fish that could contain mercury.
Additionally, women should not consume alcohol, tobacco products, or illegal drugs. If you have any question about ingesting certain items, it is better to avoid them until you can ask your doctor. Even something as seemingly benign as caffeine can have negative effects on a fetus if not consumed in moderation. Unfortunately, the best foods to eat while pregnant may not be enough to sustain a pregnant woman's daily nutritional needs.
Therefore, vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended, specifically vitamins A and C. Calcium is critical for all women, but for mothers-to-be, it has the added job of assisting with the proper formation of bones and teeth. Iron is a mineral that many premenopausal women lack, and it too becomes increasingly essential when pregnant, as it is needed for the development of red blood cells.
Finally, the best foods to eat while pregnant should contain lots of folic acid. Folic acid is necessary for brain and spinal cord formation. It is typically found in green foods (particularly in leafy vegetables like kale and spinach), beans, and citrus fruits.
However, women can not usually get the required amount of folic acid through diet alone, and should therefore take supplements. Many believe that the best foods to eat while pregnant are mostly organic, ensuring that many of nutrients that should be found in these foods are recovered in the soil.
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