Healthy Eating Habits for a Healthy Pregnancy
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Adopting healthy eating habits is very important during pregnancy. Most people have heard the saying, 'you're eating for two now,' and it's a good thing to remember when considering nutrition during pregnancy. Nutritional programs are available through many fertility clinics and are designed to help women achieve a healthy pregnancy. To start, let's go over some of the foods you should embrace during your pregnancy. Protein is important for cell growth as well as blood production. Good sources of protein include lean meat, poultry, beans, peanut butter and tofu. Carbohydrates are also important during pregnancy for energy. Breads, cereals, rice, pasta, fruits and vegetables are common sources of carbs. Calcium is very important for muscle contraction, healthy bones and teeth, and nerve function. You can get calcium from dairy products, spinach or certain fish. To prevent anemia, iron is important during pregnancy. Look to lean red meat and fortified whole grain breads and cereals for iron. You should also get a healthy dose of vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D during pregnancy. These can be found in various fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products. Folic acid for enzyme functions, and blood and protein production is also important. Dark yellow fruits and vegetables, green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and peas are good sources of folic acid. Also be sure to consume fat during your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to determine how much fat intake is right for you. Sources of fat are numerous, but include meats, whole-milk and other dairy products, vegetable oils, peanut butter, etc.
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Make sure that you limit your fat intake to less than one third of your daily calorie intake. Some women may be recommended lower or higher intakes and should always consult their doctor for the best results. As you might expect, there are also certain foods you should avoid to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Soft cheeses such as goat, Brie, blue, feta and Camembert cheese should be avoided, as well as unpasteurized milk and juice. Avoid raw eggs and any foods that contain raw eggs. This includes desserts like mousse and tiramisu. Any processed meats like hot dogs and deli meat should be avoided.
Any raw or undercooked meat, fish or poultry should also be avoided. Any fish that contains a large amount of mercury like tilefish, swordfish, king mackerel or shark should be avoided as well. It is important to regularly buy natural foods and eat healthy foods during pregnancy. you can get a consultation on “Improving Your Health Naturally”, a complete system for healthy and natural living. Visit http://www.domarcenter.com for more information on acupuncture, mind and body workshops and special offers ” before they are gone ! Additional resources: http://www.BostonIVF.com http://www.FertilityLeaders.com http://www.FertilityProRegistry.com
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