Ideal Foods to Consume While Pregnant
Healthy Diets For Pregnant Women. During pregnancy, the following foods are advantageous to both your health and the development of the fetus:
- carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, cooked greens, tomatoes, and red sweet peppers are some examples of vegetables (for vitamin A and potassium)
- Fruits include red or pink grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, mangoes, prunes, bananas, apricots, and prune juice (for potassium)
- Dairy items include soymilk, skim or 1% milk, fat-free or low-fat yogurt (for calcium, potassium, vitamins A and D)
- Grains: prepared cereals and ready-to-eat cereals (for iron and folic acid)
- Proteins include salmon, trout, herring, sardines, pollock, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds in addition to lean beef, lamb, and pig.
Read Also: Healthy Teenage Diet Plan
Foods to stay away from when pregnant
The following foods should be avoided while pregnant:
- Milk that has not been pasteurized and products created with it (soft cheeses like feta, queso blanco and fresco, Camembert, brie, or blue-veined cheeses—unless they are marked “made with pasteurized milk”).
- Luncheon meats and hot dogs (unless they are heated until steaming hot before serving)
- Meat, eggs, and seafood that are raw or undercooked. Never consume sushi that contains raw fish (cooked sushi is safe).
- Pâté and pork spreads kept in the fridge
- Smoked seafood kept in the fridge
How Important Folic Acid Is
All women of reproductive age should ingest 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily, according to the U.S. Public Health Service. The following foods contain folic acid:
- a few green vegetables
- the majority of berries, nuts, legumes, citrus fruits, and morning cereals with added nutrients
- a few dietary supplements.
Neural tube defects, which are birth malformations of the brain and spinal cord, can be lowered with the aid of folic acid. Different degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and occasionally intellectual incapacity can be caused by neural tube abnormalities.
The first 28 days following conception, when the majority of neural tube abnormalities happen, are when folic acid is most beneficial. Unfortunately, you might not be aware of your pregnancy until 28 days have passed. Folic acid consumption should therefore start prior to conception and continue during pregnancy. To suit your unique needs, your doctor or midwife will advise you on the right dosage of folic acid.
To avoid neural tube abnormalities, for instance, women who take anti-epileptic medications may need to take larger amounts of folic acid. When considering trying to get pregnant, they should speak with their doctor.
