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Choosing A Healthy Pregnancy Diet

It is extremely important to follow a healthy diet during pregnancy to minimize the chances of any problems arising that can be dangerous to both you and your baby. Women who had poor diets before becoming pregnant are at a higher risk of miscarriage, especially during the first several weeks of pregnancy.

A health pregnancy diet is more of a lifestyle choice than anything else. You want to do everything you can to make sure you deliver a healthy baby at term. Avoiding unhealthy food and drink as well as high risk activities are the smart choice for soon to be moms. Pregnant women should seriously consider cutting out the fast food, pre-processed foods, highly caffeinated drinks like coffee and cola, any type of alcohol and stop smoking immediately. If not for your own health, then for the health of your unborn child. Not only will these types of food lead to an unhealthy pregnancy and increase the risk of development problems, but they also significantly increase the risk that you child will be unhealthy later on in life and suffer from obesity and diabetes.

Your developing baby needs good health nourishment to grow properly and they get all of their nutrition from what you are eating as the mother. Please think about this the next time you are tempted by that greasy pizza, fast food burger or bag of chips.

Pregnant women should be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein such as fish, chicken and turkey, low fat dairy and whole grains. Getting extra iron throughout pregnancy is also a good idea for expectant women. Pregnant women should be getting about 27 mg of iron each day to ensure they are producing sufficient blood corpuscles for their baby and themselves. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency anemia if they are not getting the needed amount on a regular basis. This can lead to premature birth as well as low birth weight for the baby. Good, natural sources for iron are lean red meats, poultry, chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans. Getting enough calcium is also very important for pregnant women. They should try to get at least 1000mg of calcium each day to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Calcium is important for proper bone and teeth development. Good, healthy sources of calcium are low fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt.

A big part of having a healthy pregnancy is making good choices on a daily basis. When you are tempted by an unhealthy food item, pause, take a deep breath and remember that you have control and you have the ability to make a good or a bad choice right then and there. You will have to change your behaviors if you have been eating an unhealthy diet, but the more you consciously make better choices, the easier it will become and eventually, your body will actually crave the healthy food and reject the unhealthy food.

There are many reasons you want to control your weight when you are pregnant. You can control your weight in many ways and many foods you need to avoid so you are successful with this type of diet.

The most important thing to remember when you are pregnant is that babies will take what they need from your body. You are the one that is left without the nutrients if you are not eating enough of them. That is why so many women are short on iron and have to take iron supplements and notice their teeth deteriorate during a pregnancy because they baby is taking their calcium.

You can use this to your advantage. Because the baby is going to take what it needs from your body then it is the best time to lose weight, especially if you are over weight. Many women do not know this but the baby needs fat. As the baby would take your iron the baby will also use up your fat if you do not eat any.

If you eat a completely fat free diet of fruits and vegetables then you will lose weight rather than gain it. The baby will take your fat and your doctor will notice your weight is dropping but your stomach is growing. This will show the doctor the baby is getting bigger and you are healthier.

When you are pregnant you must eat healthy foods and take prenatal vitamins. You may have many cravings like bacon, chocolate donuts and other sweets. When you have cravings for sweets the best thing you can do is reach for a small glass of juice rather than sweets. Stay away from the soda too. Even though it is diet soda it is not good for you and will cause you to gain weight. The goal is to be healthy.

Exercise is not just good for you when you are not pregnant but when you are pregnant as well. The best exercise for a pregnancy is walking. You should walk as much as you can while you are pregnant. This will help you with a fast labor process and help you not gain any additional pounds throughout the 40 weeks of your pregnancy.

A pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks if you make it to full term. You want to be able to gain as little weight as possible. When you have the baby you are going to lose the weight of the baby which may be from 6 lbs to 10 lbs and some of the fluid weight. Tops you will lose 20 pounds when the baby is born. Keep in mind that if you gain more than 50 lbs. then you will spend a very long time trying to work it off to get your body back.

A healthy diet when you are pregnant must consist of as little fat in your diet as possible, fresh fruits and vegetables, a lot of water, and plenty of daily exercise through walking. You can take advantage of a pregnancy to help your body lose weight and be very healthy by eating the right things and exercising.

It doesn't matter how old you are, there's nothing like a healthy lifestyle if you want to look great. But, during pregnancy, it is even more important. If you are looking for the best pregnancy diets, in my website you can find a lot of articles and info that will help you to understand much better this period of your life.

Balanced diet plans go on about how you should eat the right foods and all the rest, but what are the right foods and why should you be eating them?

The right foods are the ones that contain the right vitamin and minerals in the right combinations and quantities. Here are a few of the mineral that should be part of a balanced diet:

Folic acid is needed for cell development and is instrumental in preventing birth defects. This is especially essential for pregnant women as they need to make sure the get enough folic acid to provide for themselves and their babies. It can be found in fortified cereals and grains as well as in leafy green vegetables.

Calcium is used in fortifying and developing teeth and bones. It cannot be absorbed on its own and needs to have potassium and magnesium in the system as well. It is found in milk (soy and cow) as well as dark green vegetables like spinach. Potassium is found in potato skins, broccoli and other leafy green vegetables, bananas and tomatoes.

Iron is vital for the formation of red blood cells. In order to make iron metabolize, you need to have enough copper. This can be gained from organ meats as well as sunflower seeds and various whole grain products. Iron is also used in the transportation of oxygen in the red blood cells.

Zinc is used in the boosting of the body's immune system and the nervous system. Eating sufficient dairy products and nuts will give your body the zinc it needs.

Protein is the building material of the body. Without protein, no cells can be built. It is used in children for growth and in adults to maintain cell reproduction. It is found in meat, dairy and beans.

This list does not cover half of the minerals that should be included in a balanced diet, but it is a place to start. Make sure you get enough of the right vitamins and minerals in order to keep your body healthy while on a diet.

One common mistake that pregnant women commit is overeating. While it is true that they are eating for two, it does not necessarily mean that they need to double their caloric and nutrient intake to ensure a healthy pregnancy diet. Knowing the foods to eat when pregnant can help you avoid getting carried away by the phrase "eating for two". Keep in mind that a pregnant woman only needs an extra 200 to 300 calories in her daily recommended nutrient allowance to ensure healthy pregnancy. Eating more than what is needed results in excessive weight gain which can lead to a host of pregnancy complications. Hence, you need to keep a close watch on your portion sizes and overall caloric intake to maintain a healthy pregnancy diet.

To a pregnant woman, it is extremely important to understand the foods to eat when pregnant. While good foods hold the key to proper nourishment for the mother and baby, other kinds of foods contains elements that can potentially harm a growing fetus. Vegetables, whole grains and fruits are the main focus of a healthy pregnancy diet. A healthy pregnancy diet will influence your baby's growth, brain development and risk of birth defects. It also guarantees a strong immune system for you to combat all forms of pathogens, keeping you from succumbing to illnesses that might interfere with your baby's overall health.

A healthy pregnancy diet recommends getting enough vitamins, minerals, folic acid and fiber in your diet. You can meet that by eating a variety of foods such as fruits, lentils, green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole-wheat breads, cereals and pastas, lean cooked meat and poultry, pasteurized milk and milk products and healthy oils like olive and sunflower oil. More importantly, a healthy pregnancy diet should provide enough folic acid, calcium, iron and protein, which are all crucial to healthy pregnancy.

In addition to compiling a list of healthy foods to eat when pregnant, a healthy pregnancy diet also involves healthy eating habits. First, you need to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water or liquid daily. Eating fiber-rich foods like whole-grain breads and all-bran cereals should prevent constipation, which is a common complaint among pregnant women. Eating several small meals a day is recommended rather than three big meals. This will ensure a steady flow of essential nutrients to the developing fetus. If you happen to be a caffeine or alcohol lover please try and refrain during your pregnancy as both these vices are known to cause birth defects and developmental problems. Also, avoid eating fruits or any food that is not properly washed as you might ingest toxic residues from its pesticides or fertilizers. Lastly, never eat uncooked foods or meat like pates, deli meats, sushi or uncooked sea foods as these foods can harbour vicious bacteria and other forms of pathogens that might compromise you and your baby's health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6912316

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