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Have a Healthy Baby by following a Pregnancy Diet |
By gad
 Taking a balanced diet becomes more important when you are pregnant; since this is the time, you need to meet the needs of your unborn child as well. The first three months of the pregnancy is very critical as most of the mental and physical growth of the baby takes place during this time.
You must nourish your body with enough natural foods and nutrients. You should eat about 300 calories more per day than you did before becoming pregnant. A nutritious diet with enough vitamins, proteins, fats, minerals and carbohydrates are essential during pregnancy. However, you should eat a wide variety of foods but in moderate.
Eating too much food can be harmful because it can lead to excess weight gain. You should try taking three meals every day, or divide these into six smaller meals if you have any problems with heartburn or nausea. Besides the natural diet, a prenatal vitamin especially with calcium, iron, and folic acid is often prescribed by doctors to fill in any nutritional gaps. A proper diet during pregnancy, which includes essential
nutrients, is very important for mother and child. Doctors prescribe prenatal supplements, which should be taken as well as your daily diet at the time of pregnancy.
Some of the essential nutrients:
Iron- It is needed to fuel the production of hemoglobin for you and the baby. Iron also helps in building bones and teeth. A shortage of iron can cause anemia. Sources of iron include; potatoes, dates, raisins, leafy green vegetables, whole grain breads etc.
Protein- Your bodys need tends to increase when you are pregnant, so you need to eat protein rich foods. Vitamin B6 is needed for proper utilization of protein. Nuts, fish, meat, beans, peas, eggs are all rich in protein.
Calcium- This is of great importance for the healthy development of your babys teeth and bones. The intake of calcium is needs to be doubled when you are pregnant. Dairy products are a great source in providing calcium. Other than dairy products, green leafy vegetables are a good source of calcium.
Vitamin C- This helps to build a strong placenta. It enables your body to resist infection and aids the absorption of iron. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the main sources of vitamin C. It is needed daily because it cannot be restored in the body.
Folic Acid- It is one of the most vital nutrients that a pregnant women needs. This is needed to develop the nervous system of the baby, this occurs mainly in the first few weeks. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps in preventing neural tube defects (defects of brain, spine, or their coverings) and other birth defects such as congenital heart disease and cleft lip. Dark-green leafy vegetables are a good source of folic acid. Other sources are; beans, liver, yeast, citrus fruits, cereals, and bread.
Fiber- This should be taken in a larger amount than normal as part of your daily diet as during pregnancy constipation and piles can be a problem. Fiber intake during pregnancy helps prevent this situation. Sources of fiber are; fruits, vegetables, nuts, brown rice, beans, pulses etc.
Water- It plays a key role in your diet during pregnancy. It helps to carry nutrients from foods you eat to your baby. And helps to prevent excessive swelling, constipation, hemorrhoids and urinary tract or bladder infections.
Promise Prenatal provides the perfect solution for an expecting mother. It offers prenatal vitamins for all the three stages of pregnancy. Promise Prenatal vitamins contain all the perfect nutrients, which are completely safe for mother and baby. To know more about the benefits of Promise Prenatal visit: http://www.promiseprenatal.com
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