Pregnancy and Health Care

Posts Tagged ‘diet’

If you’re pregnant the most important thing is your health and your baby. Women who do not have enough folic acid during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a baby with serious problems in the brain or spinal cord.

Although all women are not pregnant can also do it without problem, it is important that those who do are, eat enough folic acid before pregnancy and during the first months to prevent birth defects.

Folic acid is a B vitamin (B9). This vitamin can be found mostly in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, meat and grains. Oranges, bananas, broccoli, spinach, peas, asparagus, beans, peanuts, lentils and chicken liver are highly recommended. Like all vitamins, it also can be ingested through food supplements. Most of the concentrates of vitamins contain between 0.3 to 0.4 milligrams of folic acid is the recommended amount.

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Eating a healthy balanced diet is one of the pillars to carry your pregnancy to fruition. Not only is healthy for you, but it is also essential for the proper development of the fetus. Note that at least forty nutrients are working on the formation, development and growth of the baby, so make sure to have a good supply of these energy elements, you will need your child during pregnancy.

A balanced diet is to provide enough calories, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals to the body. This does not mean you have to eat for two, as they said our grandmothers, but you have to eat well and so varied.

For example, it was found that lack of folic acid (B vitamin), compromises the neural tube development and, therefore, the baby’s nervous system. Or that vitamins B6 and B12 and zinc are good for the prevention of cleft lip and heart defects and skeletal.

Also, in a study by the University of California Berkeley, has found that consumption of fruits, vegetables and protein foods before pregnancy reduces the risk of developing leukemia in children.

If you are overweight is very important that you make a reduced calorie diet to achieve your ideal weight before falling to state, and avoid being overweight during pregnancy, which not only affect your aesthetics, but also to your health (varicose veins, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia …) Read the rest of this entry »

Good nutrition
Feeding during pregnancy is especially important since good nutrition of the mother is one of the key components for success. Never forget that the baby is fed through you and what you eat determines what you get it, or do not receive.

The key is always in the variety and quantity, two little words that contain in themselves the real truth.

When we speak of variety we mean that you eat with the 5 basic groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meats and eggs and dairy. The absence of any of these in your diet will result in the absence of any one (or several) of the essential nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Even the concept of variety is applied within each food group, for example, the broader is our choice of fruit or vegetables, the safer we will receive all that nutrienes that this group brings us.

The concept of quantity is basically related to the rations that we ingest each food group. This concept is somehow related to the concept of variety: over-consumption of any of the groups can take the place it should occupy another food group. If for example my diet is too high in grains, probably one of the groups is hindered in quantity, so the range will be affected. It is important to take care not to consume any group or in excess or deficit because the balance of all foods provide the right balance in our diet.

Once you become pregnant, should consume between 100-300 extra calories per day. If your weight is within normal limits, should not increase more than 35 pounds during pregnancy. If you have trouble maintaining a healthy weight, if this can be different.

Before becoming pregnant, you should try to eat healthy foods to be as healthy as possible. Many of us know how we can improve our diet, but also know how difficult that may be changing what we eat and how much we eat.

It may be easier to incorporate more healthy foods in your diet before you leave foods that are bad for health. To start, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. This is the move towards a more balanced diet including:

Carbohydrates
or Carbohydrates should be a little more than half of what we eat. Try to get the most whole grain carbohydrates such as bread and rice. Avoid sugary foods and drinks such as candy and soda.

Proteins
or Protein helps the growth of the fetus. They are found in meat and dairy products as well as tofu and beans. Even if you follow a vegetarian diet, strict or not, you can enjoy a healthy pregnancy. However, check with your supplier of health care to make sure you eat enough protein.

Fats
or fats help absorb vitamins. Most people get enough. During pregnancy, it is important to incorporate fats from fish and vegetables.

Fibers
or fibers are derived from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eat at least 3-5 servings per day. Many women experience constipation during pregnancy. Foods that contain fiber help prevent it