It is a mother's natural instinct to want the best for her child. Note that wanting the best for your child starts with knowing what foods to eat when pregnant. "Why is this so important?" you may ask. It is in getting the right nutrition that you ensure your baby's proper development in your womb and prevent congenital disorders and developmental defects.
Pregnant women must make sure that their diet contains the right combination of food from the four basic food groups. This is due to the fact that there are important pregnancy nutrients that pregnant women need to be aware of, to ensure normal and healthy fetal development.
Pregnant women need adequate levels of carbohydrates in their diet. Chances are, you already have some of these in your daily food intake: bread, pasta, rice, cereals and potatoes. Carbohydrates supply the energy that we need for daily activity. You will need slightly more to accommodate the extra energy needed during pregnancy. You should also be getting adequate supply of proteins from sources such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and nuts. Pregnant women need about 80 grams of protein intake.
You will also need sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, C, B complex, calcium, iron and folic acid. These vitamins and minerals can be sourced from fruits and vegetables, making them important foods to eat when pregnant. Folic acid is very important especially during the first few months of pregnancy, as it is required for the proper development of the baby's spinal cord. Rich sources of folic acid include dark green leafy vegetables and enriched cereals. Calcium from milk, cheese and yogurt is important for the development of your baby's bones; you need to take at least 1000 mg of calcium every day. Finally, it is important that you get adequate levels of iron to prevent anaemia, which is quite common in pregnancy. Excellent sources of iron include red meat, dark poultry and fish. Your prenatal vitamins should be able to provide sufficient levels of these vitamins and minerals, but nothing beats getting them from natural food sources.
Do you really "eat for two"? As mentioned before, you will need some extra nutrients to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. However, you do not have to consume twice as much food during pregnancy. In fact, you only need an extra 300 calories per day. This is equivalent to one baked potato, or two slices of cheese on your sandwich.
Wholesome natural foods provides your growing fetus with much of the nutrients that will enhance its mental and physical development. If you truly want to give your baby an excellent start in life, begin by learning about the best foods to eat when pregnant, and proceed from there.
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