Several years ago, a friend of mine directed a marketing program for a hospital to promote its labor/delivery unit and started out by surveying mothers-to-be of all ages to get some feedback on what was most important to them when it came time for them to deliver. Without exception, the response was “the safety of the baby.” No surprise there! If I were pregnate the one overriding concern in everything would be whether or not it would hurt the baby, particularly what I would be eating. We've heard the statement “You are what you eat” until we’re sick and tired of it. Talk about cliché! However, now that you’re pregnant, “Your baby is what you eat” is an important truism that must guide your life. What can you eat for optimum health? This article has some ideas based on a raw-foods diet that may be helpful.
Keep a Diary
I know, I know. It's a nuisance to write down everything you eat, but a lot of research into this matter has revealed that those who record what they’re eating actually do take better control over their diets. Work out a plan that fits your lifestyle, but keep it with you and record what you eat immediately; don't leave anything out such as sauces, etc.; and be honest. At this special time, you want to be as careful as you can be to make certain you are getting the nutrients you need, and keeping a record works in your favor. Look at your diary at the end of each day and then at the end of each week. Make a checklist of the nutrients you know you need and evaluate whether you are touching all bases. This will help you plan your diet as you go.
Raw-Foods Nutrition During Pregnancy
- Calcium: dark leafy greens and broccoli
- Choline: broccoli or cauliflower
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): fish and eggs. (Supplements can be purchased.)
- Folic Acid: lentils, spinach, broccoli,orange juice.
- Iron: whole grains
- Potassium: spinach, orange juice, broccoli, raisins
- Riboflavin:, raisins, mushrooms
- Vitamin B6: watermelon, avocado, banana
- Vitamin B12: no raw food contains B12, supplements may be bought
- Vitamin C: sweet red pepper, oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, broccoli, tomatoes
- Vitamin D: mushrooms
- Zinc: blackberries, kiwis, pumpkin seeds, pine, cashews
Importance of Good Nutrition during Pregnancy
Don't forget that the embryo at the very start and in the first few weeks is very vulnerable. Be very alert to the possibility that you might be pregnant and begin protecting it immediately. In fact, the best thing you can do if you are likely to become pregnant is to begin shoring up your own good health to avoid harming your baby even before you know there is a danger. Organs and systems are developing at this time, and the energy and nutrients that go into the creation of these systems come directly from your circulation and that of the lining of the womb. Also, the placenta is not formed yet, so the embryo has no protection from deficiencies in your own blood stream. A deficiency in folic acid is now known to contribute to neural tube defects. One of those defects is spina bifida. Supplementing with folic acid before you get pregnant is a wise choice.
Importance of Protein during Pregnancy
The raw-foods diet can be beneficial during pregnancy if you take great care to get all the nutrients you and your baby need. However, one of the areas where you should be most concerned is with protein, which will play an extremely important part in the healthy development of your baby, particularly during the second and third trimesters. You should be consuming about 70 grams of protein every day. Meat is probably the best source for protein; however, there are plenty of other sources you can choose from for your raw foods diet:
- Beans, Nuts, & Legumes
- 6 tablespoons of peanut butter
- 3 oz. peanuts
- Spirulina
Weight Gain During Pregnancy
When you hear women sit around and talk, it usually gets around to their pregnancies sooner or later, and one of the most-often heard complaints has to do with weight gain. Some women gain so much during their pregnancies that they have a very difficult time getting it off. On the other hand, in the past doctors have limited how much their patients could gain so severely that babies were born malnourished. Striking a balance in this matter is important if you want to have a healthy pregnancy. First of all, going into the pregnancy with a healthy body and a normal weight is the best possible scenario. However, if you are overweight and have become pregnant, this is not the time to diet for weight loss. This is the time to eat for your baby's health. If you have been on a raw-foods diet all along, your weight is probably normal, so you should be in good shape. Following a raw foods diet that contains all the necessary nutrients while you are pregnant is the best possible way to go in that regard. Your baby will be well-nourished and will be born healthy and your weight-gain will be appropriate.
By TTS Health Consultant Gabrielle Gingras
Related Health Products that may be of Interest
Shake Formula: This eBook is designed for you to easily consume all the vitamins and nutrients that nature intended without any effort and without displeasing Mr. & Mrs. Tastebud.
31 Day Raw Food Diet: "At last, a 31 day health journey that will change your life". A no nonsence raw food diet ebook that won't leave you hungry, that won't leave you counting calories or nutritional information (our nutritionist has done it for you), and that won't leave you with a headache...
Chop to Impress: This eBook is designed for those who are in love with raw and living foods, and for those who are on their way to a healthier diet. Eating raw and living foods doesn't have to be boring or complicated. To create your own exquisite dishes, all you need is a...
100% Organic Nama Shoyu: We are Proud to Present Tried.Tasted.Served 100% Organic, Double-Brewed TTS Nama Shoyu.
|
