| It's an old belief that you should be eating for two | | | | problems, or have been on weight-control pills, it is |
| when you are pregnant. Pregnancy is absolutely | | | | likely that your folic acid reserves are depleted - |
| no excuse for you to gorge on food. The | | | | requiring the need for supplements. Vegetarians, |
| essence of the adage is that you should eat for | | | | especially, should consult with an expert to review |
| two in terms of the amount of required nutrients | | | | their entire diet. |
| you're passing on to your child. | | | | What to avoid |
| Zinc and calcium intake should increase by 50%, | | | | To stay on the safe side, eliminate foods that |
| and folic acid and iron intake should be doubled. A | | | | have been known to cause harm to you or the |
| healthy pregnancy diet differs from a | | | | baby from your pregnancy diet. Raw seafood |
| non-pregnant woman's diet in that a pregnant | | | | such as sushi, sashimi, oysters, squid, and the like |
| woman is required to increase her intake by as | | | | must be avoided. Raw meat should likewise be |
| much as 150 calories during the first trimester, | | | | avoided, so keep of rare steaks and meat that's |
| and up to 250-300 calories beginning every day | | | | undercooked. |
| thereafter. | | | | A healthy pregnancy diet also should not included |
| The pregnancy diet plan | | | | milk that hasn't undergone the pasteurization |
| Your diet during pregnancy must be well-rounded | | | | process, as well as soft cheeses. You can include |
| - that is, it must include representative foods | | | | deep-sea fish such as tuna in your pregnancy diet, |
| from all food groups. Use the USDA food pyramid | | | | but these cannot be consumed daily. One |
| as your guide in planning your daily meals. | | | | important rule of thumb is to eat everything in |
| An ideal pregnancy diet must include 4 or more | | | | moderation. |
| servings of protein, veggies, and dairy; 2-4 | | | | Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided from the |
| servings of your favorite fruits; 6-11 servings of | | | | earliest moment possible until even months after |
| grains; and a minimum of 3 servings of protein. | | | | childbirth. If you need a caffeine fix, then one cup |
| Consume high-fiber foods and those rich in | | | | of coffee a day would suffice. |
| minerals such as iron and zinc. | | | | It goes without saying that prohibited drugs are a |
| You may still use salt and sugar but you have to | | | | no-no for all pregnant women. There have been |
| use them sparingly. Avoid foods rich in | | | | hundreds of research proving how much damage |
| preservatives. They wouldn't do you and the | | | | these drugs can cause to both mothers and their |
| baby any good. The importance of folic acid, | | | | babies. In many cases, intake of these harmful |
| likewise, could never be overemphasized. | | | | substances has led to stillbirths. |
| The lack of folate in the pregnancy diet has been | | | | Cravings |
| linked to neural tube defects such as spina bifida. | | | | Although there is no definitive scientific explanation |
| The most critical stages are the first weeks after | | | | to cravings, researchers claim that they are our |
| conception. Women who are planning to conceive | | | | bodies' natural way of taking in the substances |
| are advised to consume 800 micrograms of | | | | our systems need at that time. If those that you |
| folate everyday. | | | | crave for are inherently good for your pregnancy |
| If you are a vegetarian, have certain health | | | | diet, then it's okay to indulge. |