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The Importance of Vitamin D in Pregnancy

Vitamin D is an important nutrient in pregnancy for the growth and development of the baby’s bones and teeth. In addition, vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphates. Proper nutrition during pregnancy, including adequate vitamin D, may help lower the risk of pre-eclampsia. In fact, not getting enough vitamin D during pregnancy can cause problems for mom and baby. A study in the UK showed that mothers who were given a supplement of vitamin D during pregnancy had children with greater bone mineral density. Children were followed and their bone density checked at nine years of age. … Continue reading →

The Importance of Zinc in Pregnancy

Once you become pregnant, you begin to pay a lot more attention to your diet than ever before. Mom and baby need a broad range of nutrients for health and proper development. One important and often overlooked nutrient in the prenatal diet is zinc. Zinc is important for every stage along the road to parenthood, including conception. Zinc is an essential nutrient for sperm production in the man and healthy and regular ovulation in the woman. Once pregnancy is achieved, zinc is important throughout the development of the baby for cell growth and for the immune system of mom and … Continue reading →

The Importance of B Vitamins

Folic acid is the B vitamin that gets the most attention during pregnancy. This is deserved considering the information about the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects. However, folic acid is just one of several important vitamins for mother and baby. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine is important for muscle growth and tone, the functioning of the nervous and digestive systems. Food sources include beef, eggs, legumes, breads, whole grain cereals, brown rice, green leafy vegetables and nuts. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin is important for digestion, immune system support and energy production. Food sources include milk, eggs, meat, … Continue reading →

The Importance of Folate

Folate is an important nutrient for the developing baby. A synthetic form of folate used in prenatal vitamins and as food supplements is folic acid. Studies have shown folate can help prevent neural tube defects affecting the brain and spinal cord. The most important time period for baby to reap the benefits of folate in the diet is when the neural tube is forming in the early weeks of pregnancy. In many cases, this is happening before a woman even knows she is pregnant or just after she discovers the pregnancy. For this reason, increasing the intake of folate in … Continue reading →

The Need for Protein (Part VII)

While pregnant women need to ensure they’re getting enough protein, they are not limited to meat. In fact, including a variety of protein foods will not only meet their protein requirement but also enrich their diet with other essential nutrients and add diversity to their diet. Nuts and seeds are another excellent source of protein and provide for a quick and easy snack. Additionally, these protein sources can also supply calcium, omega 3’s, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin E, folate, and many other important nutrients. Vegetables also contain some protein. Broccoli and kale have about 5 grams of protein per 1 cup … Continue reading →

“Fast Food” for Moms-to-be

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For some moms, pregnancy means an overhaul when it comes to diet. For others, it’s nothing new. Whether or not healthy foods are part of your regular diet, eating healthy on the go can be tricky, especially in a world where cheap, fast food is available everywhere. When your stomach is growling, fight the urge to pull into the drive through by keeping your purse and car stocked with healthy snacks. Prepare snacks ahead of time, storing them in zippered sandwich bags, ready to grab on your way out the door. Not sure what to bring along? Here are some … Continue reading →

Is Green Tea Safe?

Green tea has been getting a lot of attention in recent years for its abundant health benefits. Green tea is helpful in diets intended to reduce cholesterol levels and is said to have benefits for cancer prevention. For this reason, more people than ever are choosing green tea, including women of child bearing age. For this group, green tea may not be beneficial. There is some evidence to suggest that high levels of green tea intake could result in a higher risk of having a baby with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. This information comes from a study … Continue reading →