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The Importance of Good Prenatal Nutrition
by Ralph E Halsey
http://www.rehnutrition.com
Now there's even more reason to eat healthy while you're
pregnant. In March, 2005, the Joslin Diabetes Center
released the results of a study examining the effects of
poor prenatal nutrition on the fetus. The study showed that
even though the early effects on the newborn child seemed to
be reversed with healthy eating, the poor diet fed to the
pregnant mice in the study had permanent effects on the
children born to them. The majority of mice born to
malnourished mothers developed diabetes on becoming adults.
None of the control group did.
As expected, the mice who were born to malnourished mothers
were low birthweight. After birth, all the baby mice were
fed a healthy diet, and within a few weeks, the low birth
weight babies had caught up with their peers and seemed
perfectly healthy. They weren't, though. After reaching
adulthood, the majority of mice from the malnourished group
developed Type 2 diabetes. While low birthweight has been
known as a risk factor for the development of diabetes, the
Joslin study established an unmistakable link between
prenatal nutrition and diabetes.
For generations, mothers warned their daughters about the
things they ate during pregnancy, relating stories about
children developing allergies to foods that were consumed
too often or other old wives' tales. Modern science turned
its nose up at the notion, instead fostering the belief that
no matter how poorly the mother ate, the growing fetus
wouldn't be affected. It was believed that the needed
nutrients would simply be taken from the mother's stores.
Research has shown that this simply isn't true. Now doctors
realize that deficiencies of most nutrients in the mother's
diet will result in deficiencies in the baby - deficiencies
that can lead to health problems even when the child is
grown and become an adult.
If you're an expectant mother, or planning to become
pregnant soon, doctors recommend that you eat a healthy,
well-balanced diet that includes all the nutrients that you
and your baby need. According to the USDA, your body needs
200-300 more calories a day - not quite eating for two, but
a substantial increase above your usual intake.
If you're pregnant, or trying to become pregnant, what you
eat is important not only for your own health, but for the
health of your unborn child. Some nutrtional deficiencies
can make your pregnancy more difficult. A lack of iron, for
example, can increase your chances of preeclampsia, which
can lead to premature birth. Others, like not getting enough
folic acid (vitamin B), can result in serious birth defects.
And, as the Joslin study shows, some have effects that may
not show up until your baby reaches adulthood.
In addition, they recommend the following dietary
supplements for pregnant women to ensure that there is an
adequate supply of all needed nutrients for a growing baby:
At least 400 mcg f folic acid (vitamin B) Low dose iron
supplements A good multivitamin At least 6 8 ounce glasses
of water a day.
Most nutritionists and doctors also agree that the North
American diet doesn't provide adequate amounts of some key
nutrients. That's why most doctors will prescribe a prenatal
vitamin that provides extra iron and folic acid, both of
which are vital for your healthy pregnancy and your baby's
development.
If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the
next six months, a visit to a nutritionist can help you work
out a healthy eating and supplement plan that will provide
your body with all the nutrition it needs to grow a healthy
baby. He or she can help you fit your favorite foods into a
balanced diet, and make suggestions that will improve your
overall health.
If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the
next few months, you should consult a dietition or other
nutrition specialist. They can get you started with a
healthy, nutritious eating plan that provides all the
nutrients that you and your growing baby need to get and
stay healthy.
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