Pregnancy nutrition

Pregnancy nutrition is of the utmost importance. Good nutrition before and during pregnancy can affect your child for its entire life. Poor pregnancy nutrition contributes to a smaller baby, and can create health problems that might generate otehr problems after birth. Eating a well balanced diet before you conceive can help decrease Early Pregnancy Symptoms, such as morning sickness, constipation, and fatigue.

Several things can be done to make sure you give your baby good pregnancy nutrition.

•  Take a prenatal vitamin that is high in iron, calcium, and folic acid.

•  Avoid skipping meals. Eat small, frequent meals.

•  Eat a balanced Pregnancy Diet.

•  Choose nutrient rich foods over junk food and empty calories.

Pregnancy Nutrition Must Haves

The best way to ensure you have good pregnancy nutrition is to eat a wide variety of foods that are high in the following:

•  Calcium is necessary to build strong bones and teeth. Not only will it help with your baby’s development, it can lower your risk for osteoporsis later in life. Calcium can be found in milk and milk byproducts, broccoli, fortified orange juice and soymilk, and tofu.

•  Fiber helps prevent constipation and hemorrhoids that often plague women during pregnancy. Fiber rich foods include whole grain products, pastas, nuts, apples, pears, berries, and potatoes.

•  Folate helps prevent neural-tube defects that may occur during early pregnancy. Folate-rich foods include orange juice, spinach, lentils, fortified pasta, grains, and broccoli.

•  Protein helps with the natural development of a growing fetus. Protein can be found in meat, soy, dairy products, lentils, beans, nuts and peanut butter.

•  Fat is necessary for the development of the baby’s brain and central nervous system. Fat also provides a good source of energy for you and helps transport vitamins through your body. Fats can be found in nuts, meats, dairy products and even vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oil from oily fish and vegetable sources such as the oil from the seeds of chia, perilla, flax, purslane, hemp, and canola. Omega-3 fatty acids are classed as essential fatty acids

•  Leafy Greens and colorful fruits and vegetables provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.